Darktrace jumps (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - London, 26 Apr - UK shares closed higher, extending recent gains, boosted by positive result from US tech giants and after data showed that consumer sentiment strengthened in April.

According to Gfk, consumer sentiment in April improved to -19 from -21, topping expectations for a reading of -20.

Traders also digested data showing that the US core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, rose 2.8% on the year which was more than the 2.6% growth expected and in line with the previous month's rate.

The reading comes after data yesterday heightened concerns that price pressures in the world's largest economy might not ease as fast as previously predicted. Traders are scaling back expectations over the timing and number of Fed rate cuts.

The CME Group's FedWatch Tool is currently pricing in a chance of 61.4% for a Fed rate cut at its September meeting.

Investors also continued to monitor corporate earnings, British lender NatWest rallied 6.07% at 307.40 pence after it reported its profits had fallen by less than expected in the first quarter.

Peers Lloyds and HSBC rose 2.15% at 52.30 pence and 0.26% at 663.60 pence, respectively.

Anglo American rose 3.24% at 2,643.00 pence after the miner rejected a buyout offer from peer BHP and amid reports that US activist investor Elliott Management has built a stake worth around one billion dollars in the company.

Darktrace jumped 16.44% at 602.00 pence after US private equity firm Thoma Bravo said that its Luke Bidco investment vehicle reached an agreement to buy the company valuing the UK cybersecurity artificial intelligence firm at 5.315 billion dollars on a fully diluted basis and with an enterprise value of approximately 4.992 billion.

The London FTSE 100 closed up 0.75% at 8,139.83 points.

AAA-Zap

(RADIOCOR) 26-04-24 18:17:25 (0558) 5 NNNN