FTSE 100 ends flat, Sensex soars over 700 points despite India’s Covid crisis

Asian stocks rose for a third straight session on Monday

FTSE 100 gets a positive close, but just barely (Getty Images)

The FTSE 100 fell 0.2 per cent after trading opened on Monday, taking the index to 6,923. The FTSE 250 was flat at 22,373.70 .

On Monday, Asian stock markets saw a positive start with Chinese shares near three-week highs as signs the world economic recovery was well on track. Before noon, the Shanghai Composite traded with a gain of 6 points at around 3,480. Nikkei 225 was also in green trading 195 points up. The Hang Seng, Kospi and Taiwan index all traded in green.

Indian equity benchmarks also traded higher on Monday in response to positive global cues. Sensex rallied over 700 points in the initial trade, Nifty above 14,500.

Meanwhile, US stocks rose on Friday as tech stocks rallied in anticipation of strong earnings reports this week. The S&P 500 gained 1.09 per cent at 4,180.17, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.67 per cent to 34,043.49. The Nasdaq Composite added 1.44 per cent at 14,016.81.