The FTSE 100 made a quiet start to the week with all eyes on tensions in the Middle East and China, where troubled property group Evergrande has been told to liquidate its assets by a judge.
London’s blue-chip index added 18 to 7,653 led by the oil majors BP and Shell on a higher crude price, and weapons group BAE Systems rose as Iran denied involvement in a drone attack that killed three US service personnel.
In trading news, Ryanair narrowed its full-year profit guidance to the bottom of a previously guided range after a spat with online travel agents. Michael O’Leary’s airline expects full-year profit after tax of between €1.85-1.95 billion from €1.85-€2.05 billion before.
Vaping groups were also under pressure following the government’s clampdown on disposables to curb the craze among young people. Vape distributor Supreme dropped 11%.