(dpa/NAN)
Britain’s markets opened with a strong start after a Brexit trade deal was agreed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government and the European Commission.
On Tuesday when the FTSE 100 reopened after the Christmas break, shares were up by 100 points to 6,600 after closing at 6,502 at 1230 GMT on Christmas Eve.
By 0930 GMT, shares were still rising, and they were up by 6,665 points.
The early trading highs have not been seen since early March 2020.
Britain’s finances have taken a battering this year due to ongoing indecision over a Brexit trade deal, the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent fall into a recession following businesses being crippled by nationwide lockdowns.
A temporary border closure between France and Britain and ongoing uncertainty around the Brexit deal last week saw 33 billion pounds (44 billion dollars) wiped away from the FTSE 100 within minutes after opening.
But on Dec. 24, Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal between Britain and the EU had been reached a week ahead of Britain leaving the EU’s single market on Jan. 1.
On Tuesday, EU ambassadors are expected to give the green light on a provisional application of the deal.
Meanwhile, Britain’s lawmakers will gather virtually on Wednesday to debate the Brexit trade deal and subsequently vote on it.
Opposition leader for the Labour party, Keir Starmer, has said he will tell his lawmakers to vote for the deal to make sure it becomes law by the Dec. 31 deadline.