Homebuilders and Telecom Help FTSE Indexes Trade Higher

FTSE Indexes were higher on Tuesday as homebuilders and telecom helped to lift stocks. On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 closed at 6,167.77 for a gain of 16.37 points or 0.27 percent. The FTSE 250 was also higher, closing at 16,845.08 for a gain of 145.76 points or 0.87 percent.

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Source: FTSE 100 and FTSE 250. Google Finance.

Stocks gaining Tuesday included homebuilder, Taylor Wimpey and telecom company, Vodafone. Taylor Wimpey announced plans to increase payouts to shareholders and combined with an improved outlook on property values, the stock gained 7.19 points or 3.89 percent to close at 192.09 GBX. Vodafone was also higher Tuesday, after reporting an improved outlook for earnings through the remainder of the year. Vodafone was higher by 3.35 points or 1.50 percent to close at 227.00 GBX on Tuesday.

A weaker outlook in the automotive industry and uncertainty around the provisions of an agreement on the Greek bailout added to volatility in European stocks Tuesday. The STOXX Europe 600 Auto Index was down 2.3 percent for the day and automotive company Fiat Chrysler was lower, falling -0.36 points or -4.85 percent to 7.16 USD. Deal talks between the International Monetary Fund and Eurozone regulators continued on Tuesday over provisions for a Greek bailout. Banks in Europe gained with confidence increasing over a resolution. Greece’s Alpha Bank was higher for the day with a gain of 5.5 percent. Greece’s Athex Composite also gained on Tuesday, closing at 626.37 for a gain of 5.87 points or 0.95 percent.

Data from IFA magazine reported the following stocks leading gains and losses in the U.K. on Tuesday.

Gains

BTG (BTG) 5.80 percent

Lookers (LOOK) 5.77 percent

Aggreko (AGK) 5.14 percent

NCC Group (NCC) 3.58 percent

Weir Group (WEIR) 3.58 percent

Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 3.14 percent

DFS Furniture (DFS) 2.97 percent

International Personal Finance (IPF) 2.81 percent

AO World (AO.) 2.76 percent

Marshalls (MSLH) 2.76 percent

Losses

Halma (HLMA) -3.10 percent

ICAP (IAP) -2.64 percent

TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) -2.06 percent

Interserve (IRV) -1.97 percent

Wood Group (John) (WG.) -1.82 percent

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) -1.52 percent

Shawbrook Group (SHAW) -1.46 percent

Investec (INVP) -1.32 percent

Ibstock (IBST) -1.13 percent

Essentra (ESNT) -1.09 percent

In other European markets, France’s CAC 40 was down 4,297.57 for a loss of -14.71 points or -0.34 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 traded flat at 334.72 for a loss of -0.01 points. Germany’s DAX was lower Tuesday, closing at 9,890.19 for a loss of -62.71 points or -0.63 percent. The Europe Dow was also down, closing at 1,532.31 for a loss of -0.80 points or -0.05 percent.

In Asia, stocks traded mostly higher. The Nikkei 225 in Japan was up 186.40 points or 1.13 percent to 16,652.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was also higher, closing at 20,118.80 for a gain of 234.85 or 1.18 percent. In India, the S&P BSE Sensex gained 120.38 points or 0.47 percent to close at 25,773.61 and the NSE Nifty was higher by 30.00 points or 0.38 percent to close at 7,890.75. In China, the Shanghai Composite was lower on Tuesday, down -7.18 points or -0.25 percent to close at 2,843.68.

In the U.S., stocks traded mostly lower Tuesday. At mid-afternoon the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down -82.12 points or -0.46 percent to 17,628.59. The S&P 500 Index was down -8.71 points or -0.42 percent to 2,057.95. The Nasdaq Composite was lower by -22.51 points or -0.47 percent to 4,751.55.