UK stocks fall as bank stocks weigh; factory activity jumps

Reuters

Published May 04, 2021 08:49

Updated May 04, 2021 16:50

By Devik Jain and Shivani Kumaresan

(Reuters) -British shares were subdued on Tuesday as a drop in bond yields across Europe dragged financials stocks down, while data showed manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace since 1994 as businesses tried to make up for lost ground during the pandemic.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.7%, with bank stocks, including HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA), Barclays (LON:BARC) PLC and Standard Chartered (LON:STAN) Plc posing the biggest drag on the index.

Heavyweight oil majors BP (LON:BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) gained 2.3% and 1.1% respectively. The stocks provided the biggest boost on optimism about higher demand as economies reopen. [O/R]

"People are switching a bit out of stocks into bonds after the U.S. Treasury secretary and Fed officials dampened down inflation fears," said Keith Temperton, equity sales trader at Forte Securities.

"The big thing we are waiting for this week is the U.S. jobless numbers. That’s going to be the big key to power the market for the whole of May."

Euro zone bond yields fell on Tuesday, away from recent multi-month highs as volatility in stocks boosted demand for safe havens, giving bonds a respite from a recent heavy selloff.

The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index shed 0.6%.

The FTSE 100 has gained more than 7.4% year-to-date as investors flocked to energy and materials stocks that are seen benefiting the most from a stronger economic recovery due to speedy COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and government policy support.