FTSE 100 Competition Results week 12
With one week remaining Ginger Biscuit hits the front but we are poised for a close finish
As a poor week followed a good week, the FTSE 100 index fell 1.2% to 6,938.56 and although on the face of it nothing much changed, it was a topsy turvy week for the constituents which had a substantial effect on our competition.
All seven at the foot of our table made gains while 13 of the 14 at the top made losses. Ginger Biscuit was the only one of those 14 to make a gain and that was enough to make her the new leader with just one week of our contest remaining.
The market looked like a hangover from Wall Street, with COVID-19 pandemic fears in particular. On top of that, the strength of sterling also worked against the FTSE 100 in particular.
Investors were absorbing a fresh batch of data, remaining cautious about the pandemic and its economic consequences.
Other data showed a jump in retail sales for March, a surge of 5.4% against the previous month, with gains by nonfood stores and jumps of 17.5% and 13.4% in clothing stores and other nonfood stores respectively amid a gradual ease in COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
Upbeat economic data however failed to give UK stocks a boost with shares of Melrose Industries (-8.6%), Informa (-7.7%), Imperial Brands (-6.0%), Standard Life Aberdeen (-6.0%), British American Tobacco (-5.8%) and International Consolidated Airlines (-5.8%) leading the way south. The heavily backed AstraZeneca gained 2.5%.
Previously unpopular shares turned out to be the best performers this week. Best were Polymetal International (+3.8%), Johnson Matthew (+3.4%), Smith & Nephew (+3.3%), AVEVA Group (+3.2%) and Avast plc (+3.1%).
The consequences for our competitors -
- Keith 3158 gained 20 places, Paul McFadyen and Ernie Nicholls gained 18.
- KC2 slid 35 places, Market Trader 19 and Michael Riddell 16.
- Largest gain was made by Derek Riddell (+£1513), followed by Alastair Durkie (+£1227) and Paul McFadyen (+£1134).
- Biggest losses KC2 (-£2182), Michael Riddell (-£2177), Lewis Grieve (-£1871) and long term leader Gavin Riddell (-£1475).
- Leader is now Ginger Biscuit closely followed by Sandy Paton in second, Ogg of Echt (leader in weeks 1, 2 and 3) in third and Margaret Farquharson in fourth.
- Probably a really close finish come next Friday!
