Good morning from London, where the FTSE 100 has made a stronger than expected start to trading following some well-received tech earnings calls over in the US.
Results from Microsoft, Alphabet and Visa after the closing bell in New York saw stocks in all three move higher in after hours trading, but the gains weren’t confined entirely to the US and housebuilder Persimmon is the biggest gaine on the London stock exchange this morning.
The housebuilder describes what it calls encouraging signs, saying that visitor numbers are up, cancellation levels are normalising and sales rates continue the steady improvement evident since the start of the year, the firm said.
GSK shares also opened higher after it beat expectations for its first-quarter revenue and profit, helped by sales of its blockbuster shingles vaccine Shingrix.
But shares in Reckitt Benckiser PLC slipped after it revealed that its price hikes during the first quarter hit sales, and said its promoting Kris Licht, currently chief customer officer, to be its new chief executive.
That’s all for this morning but you can stay up to date with all the latest business news at proactive investors.co.uk – have a great day.