FTSE 100 movers: Travel & leisure stocks rally; dollar-earners decline

London’s FTSE 100 was up 2.1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} at 6,729.53 in afternoon trade on Monday.

Travel and leisure stocks rallied, with Premier Inn owner Whitbread, catering group Compass and British Airways owner IAG all higher amid hopes the vaccine rollout will bring a return to more normal life by spring.

IG said: “The 15 million vaccination threshold has lifted spirits over the government’s ability to drag us out of lockdown as early as possible. We have already seen the so-called ‘Covid recovery group’ push Johnson to commit on an April removal of all restrictions, and while that may somewhat optimistic, it is no doubt a reminder of the possible economic surge that could be around the corner.

“Both scientists and politicians alike has expressed optimism that this could be the final lockdown, with value stocks understandably gaining traction at the prospect of an economic reopening in the coming months.

“Thus it comes as no surprise to see the FTSE gains headed up by stocks in heavily-hit sectors such as travel, pubs, banks, restaurants groups, and hotels.”

Banks were also up, with Barclays and Lloyds both higher and the former slated to report earnings later in the week.

Dollar-earners were on the back foot as sterling breached the $1.39 level for the first time in nearly three years. AstraZeneca, Ferguson and Rentokil all fell.

FTSE 100 – Risers

Whitbread (WTB) 3,384.00p 5.52{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Compass Group (CPG) 1,485.50p 5.39{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 157.45p 5.35{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Barclays (BARC) 153.48p 5.20{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 38.91p 4.89{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,334.00p 4.80{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Anglo American (AAL) 2,784.00p 4.54{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Glencore (GLEN) 280.75p 4.45{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Royal Dutch Shell ‘B’ (RDSB) 1,358.00p 4.41{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Land Securities Group (LAND) 632.30p 4.17{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}

FTSE 100 – Fallers

AstraZeneca (AZN) 7,408.00p -0.84{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 7,924.00p -0.08{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
SEGRO (SGRO) 967.40p -0.06{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 2,374.00p -0.04{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 677.00p 0.00{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Relx plc (REL) 1,867.00p 0.03{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,362.00p 0.08{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Ferguson (FERG) 8,930.00p 0.11{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 526.20p 0.19{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,650.00p 0.24{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}