European equities rose after a broad global rally spurred by hopes of an end to the trade dispute between the US and China.
Markets in Asia also advanced after talks in Beijing with US officials concluded earlier on Wednesday with the world’s two largest economies seeking a truce in their long-standing row.
Dublin
The Iseq index finished almost 1 per cent higher, adding to Tuesday's 0.5 per cent gain, as the majority of its main stocks climbed. Building materials group CRH added 2.3 per cent to close at €24.45, while Bank of Ireland was 2.7 per cent higher at €5.00.
Cairn Homes closed up 1 per cent at €1.21, while food group Glanbia was 2.8 per cent higher at €17.06. Paper and packaging group Smurfit Kappa advanced 1.9 per cent to €25.04, and drinks company C&C nudged up 1.2 per cent to €2.94.
However, Ryanair dropped 1.2 per cent to €10.48, while the real estate investment trust stocks Green Reit and Hibernia Reit both ended in the red.
London
The FTSE 100 ended 0.7 per cent higher, after hitting its highest level since December 5th, while the mid-cap index rallied 1.3 per cent also to levels not seen since early last month.
The London market was buoyed by the more optimistic feeling on global trade tensions as well as a positive trading update from housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, which offset the ongoing uncertainty over Brexit and figures showing a slowing of UK productivity growth.
Housebuilders led the gains after Taylor Wimpey maintained its 2018 results forecast and predicted solid 2019 sales. Its shares advanced 6.2 per cent, taking peers Berkeley, Persimmon and Barratt up with them.
Supermarket chain Sainsbury's recouped initial losses to close 2.3 per cent higher after its chief executive reiterated his confidence that its Asda takeover deal will be cleared. It had earlier slipped almost 3 per cent on a disappointing Christmas quarter update.
Vodafone was the biggest drag on the FTSE 100 with a near 2 per cent fall as investors chose more cyclical sectors.
Among mid-caps, fashion retailer Ted Baker stole the show with a 31.2 per cent surge on robust holiday period sales and an HSBC upgrade that helped it bag its biggest intraday gain since floating in 1997 and recover losses since it announced an investigation into alleged conduct by chief executive Ray Kelvin.
IT infrastructure and service provider Softcat jumped 17.8 per cent after an unscheduled trading update to its best day on record.
Europe
The Stoxx Europe 600 index climbed 0.5 per cent to the highest in a month led by carmakers and mining stocks. Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac 40 index both rose more than 0.8 per cent.
Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen were all boosted after progress in trade talks between China and the US.
Volkswagen, which finished up 2.4 per cent, also announced that it had hired an executive from Apple – Alexander Hitzinger – to lead the technical development at its commercial vehicles division.
US
Wall Street stocks rose as investors cheered progress coming out of the three-day trade talks between Chinese and American officials.
The S&P 500 Index climbed for a fourth consecutive day to the highest in almost a month, led by technology companies and energy producers, as oil prices rose.
West Texas crude surged above $52 a barrel after Saudi Arabia’s head of energy and industry reaffirmed that the kingdom is committed to balancing the market.
Apple, which last week cut its revenue outlook for the first time in two decades, was up 2.2 per cent in early trading.
Investors awaited the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve outlining details of its December meeting, which may offer insight into which the pace of future policy moves.
– Additional reporting: Reuters / Bloomberg.
