FTSE 100 opens higher as Sensex and Nifty also make gains

Lloyds Banking Group was the FTSE’s biggest riser, up 4.2 per cent after reporting a better-than-expected profit.

Export companies took a hit with stronger pounds dragging the index down (SHAUN CURRY/AFP/Getty Images)

London’s FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday morning

The blue chip FTSE 100 opened 0.4 per cent higher at 6,972.94, while the domestically focused FTSE 250 gained 0.5 per cent to 22,550.9.

Lloyds Banking Group was the FTSE’s biggest riser, up 4.2 per cent after reporting a better-than-expected profit.

European counterparts like CAC and DAX also edged higher on Wednesday.

The US stocks closed flat followed by earnings from technology companies and other corporate giants. Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.01 per cent to end at 33,984 points, while the S&P 500 lost 0.02 per cent to 4,186. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.34 per cent, to 14,090.

On Wednesday, Asian shares were mixed as investors await global cues ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained in trade at over 100 points around noon, after trailing in the early hours, while Hang Seng also traded in green.

However, South Korea’s Kospi fell up to 0.9 per cent by noon, and Shanghai Composite was little changed. Australian stocks rose 0.52 per cent.

Meanwhile, Indian markets opened higher on Wednesday as the Sensex opened above 49,000 and traded half a per cent higher, while Nifty opened at 14,710.