Comment:  FTSE 100 pushes to record highs

Comment:  FTSE 100 pushes to record highs supported by strong earnings and a weaker GBP by Daniela Hathorn

“The FTSE 100 has reached a new record high after pushing through the bearish sentiment that has taken over global equities in the past few weeks. The index, which is made up of the biggest 100 companies in the UK, closed above the previous high of 8,045 on Monday following a 1.6% rise on the day. The rally gathered strength on Friday when the index saw some whipsaw momentum, dropping 1.45% during the Asian session before bouncing 2.4% and ending the day 0.8% higher.

Concerns about geopolitical tensions have eased slightly over the past few days which has allowed global equities to halt the recent declines and attempt to regain the bullish momentum. But the FTSE 100 has been outshining its major peers, having found its footing earlier than the rest. A weaker pound has been helping, with the latest retail sales data offering more evidence of the weakening state of the UK economy, which increases the pressure on the Bank of England to start seriously considering cutting rates.

The central bank is facing a tough balancing act of aiding growth while ensuring inflationary pressures do not spike up once again. With UK inflation now below the US for the first time in two years, markets are expecting the BoE to cut rates before the Federal Reserve, weighing on GBP/USD and keeping the FTSE 100 supported.

With regards to its constituents, Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has been leading the gains this morning as it posted strong half-year results. Improving margins for its retail sector has boosted its share price to a new five-and-a-half-year high. Online supermarket Ocado is also on the list of biggest movers boosted in part by being named the fastest-growing firm in the Kantar supermarket data, but also pressured by investors to consider moving its listing to the US.

Technically, the bias remains upward in the medium term, with the weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) still below 70. That said, the RSI is currently hovering around the level where pullbacks have started in the past, suggesting further pullbacks could still be on the cards. The weekly moving averages continue to be stacked in descending order, supporting continued bullish momentum, backed by the fact that the price has managed to push and hold above its long-term resistance of around 7,760.”
 
Daniela Hathorn is Senior Market Analyst at global retail trading platform Capital.com