London stocks rise as oil prices rebound, Brexit deal confirmed

London stocks rise as oil prices rebound, Brexit deal confirmed

London markets found support Monday after a Brexit deal was approved over the weekend between the U.K. and the European Union, and a rebound in crude oil prices lifted some big-name energy stocks.

How are the markets performing?

The FTSE 100 UKX, +1.08% gained 0.7% to 7,001.18, after closing down 0.1% on Friday, and losing nearly 0.9% for the week, its second-straight weekly loss.

The pound GBPUSD, +0.2892% rose to $1.2845 from a close of $1.2793 in New York late on Friday.

What is driving markets?

London banking stocks gained after EU leaders agreed to the U.K.’s Brexit terms. If the deal is passed in U.K. parliament, which may be no easy feat given the opposition Prime Minister Theresa May has faced thus far, the country will then be able to focus on negotiations for the new trade and security relations with the EU after it exits.

The pound gained on that Brexit news as well, which kept advances for the FTSE 100 in check. A stronger pound can weigh on the FTSE 100, as the index’s multinational companies generate most of their sales in other currencies.

Discussions around the reduction of Italy’s deficit target also helped banks across the U.K. and Europe. Reuters reported that Italian officials were willing to trim the 2019 deficit target, but it remains unclear if that will appease the European Union.

What stocks are active?

Heavyweight oil stocks regained lost ground as oil prices rebounded on Monday. Royal Dutch Shell PLC RDS.A, +2.54% and BP PLC BP, +1.83% climbed by around 2% each.

Among banks, HSBC Holdings PLC HSBC, +3.51% rallied 3% Lloyds Banking Group PLC LLOY, +0.44% rose 1.3% and Barclays PLC BARC, +1.81% added 2%.

Vodafone Group PLC VOD, +6.19% continued its upward trend from Friday, rising another 2.7%. A report last week indicated the company was considering job cuts in Spain.

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