The market report with Katie Pilbeam.
FTSE 100 headed to the Christmas break in good cheer on the growing possibility that a Brexit deal will be announced today. The news overshadowed reports of another mutant coronavirus strain and helped London’s blue-chip index rise 19 to 6,515.
Yes, after years of talks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are poised to announce an agreement on a trade deal according to the reports overnight. They then have a week to get the paperwork on the 2,000 page document formally signed.
Britain meanwhile has banned travellers from South Africa after another new strain of coronavirus was identified. Scientists believe this new strain developed independently from the one behind the spike in UK infections.
BHP PLC (LON:BHP) has restarted operations at the Samarco mine where a tailings dam collapse killed 19 people and destroyed a local village. Samarco's operations were suspended when the Fundão dam failed on 5 November 2015.
Among the small caps, BATM Advanced Communications Limited (LON:BVC) said its COVID-19 test kit can detect the new strain of the virus identified in the UK. The firm has designed its diagnostics platform to keep up with new variants.
Supply@ME Capital PLC (LON:SYME) has expanded its shareholder base. Five professional investors have acquired a combined 12.2% stake in the fintech platform, which has simplified its ownership structure.
IXICO PLC (LON:IXI) has landed a four-and-a-half-year contract worth £3.4mln. The AI data analytics company will work with an existing client on a trial for a rare, terminal spinal disease.
This is the last update for 2020, so from all at Proactive please enjoy Christmas and the holiday, keep safe and we will resume again in 2021.