As-It-Happened: FTSE and City React to Boris Johnson’s Roadmap Out of Lockdown

England’s coronavirus restrictions could finally be lifted by June 21 as part of a four-stage plan, Boris Johnson announced as he declared that “the end really is in sight”.

The FTSE 100 came within a whisker of ending the day in positive territory after a late rally in hospitality and leisure stocks following the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement.

It closed 11.78 points, or 0.18%, lower at 6,612.24 at the end of trading.

The pound continued its rally, increasing by 0.48% against the US dollar to 1.408 and rising 0.15% against the euro to 1.158.

The price of oil also rebounded from the previous Friday’s lows as continued supply concerns outweighed worries about demand. Brent crude oil increased by 2.67% to $64.59 per barrel.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were IAG, up 12.35p at 178.1p; Rolls-Royce, up 6.79p at 105.45p; Informa, up 27.6p at 536.6p; and Compass, up 60p at 1,486p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Ocado, down 158p at 2,401p; Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, down 79p at 1,267p; Just Eat Takeaway, down 342p at 7,166p; and Smith & Nephew, down 58.5p at 1,415p.

Evening Standard