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FX round-up: Pound dips on chatter about early elections, new Scottish referendum
Early gains in the US dollar on the back of a putative deal on trade between China and the US at the weekend had petered out by late in the session.
Commodities: WTI futures jump on risk of new Iran sanctions, soybeans gain on China deal
Commodities clocked in with solid gains at the start of the week, despite strength in the US dollar, amid the risk of historic sanctions against Tehran.
Results round-up
Buy-and-build construction materials group SigmaRoc delivered a solid set of results for its first year of trading profit as it successfully executed upon its strategy of extracting incremental value from acquisitions.
Europe midday: Italian stocks slump amid warning from Paris
Worries about the political situation in Italy are eroding earlier gains for stocks on the Continent, despite apparent progress in trade talks between China and the US at the weekend.
Europe close: Stocks rise despite Italian uncertainty, Spanish assets knocked lower
Worries about the political situation in Italy weighed on investor sentiment on the Continent, offsetting some of the boost from the apparent progress made by China and the US on trade talks at the weekend.
London close: Stocks hit fresh highs on news of China-US trade framework
London's top-flight index hit a new record on Monday, boosted by a weaker pound as the dollar rallied on the back of an easing of tensions between the US and China, which also helped to lift broader market sentiment.
Federal Reserve bank of Chicago's national activity index picks up in April
A widely-followed survey of economic activity in the States ticked higher last month, as indicators linked to production offset weakness in those for personal consumption and housing.
France's finance minister warns fiscal slippage in Italy could undermine euro
France's finance minister fired a shot across the bow of the Italy's anti-establishment parties, warning of the threat that some of their campaign promises could undermine the stability of the entire single currency area.
Europe open: Stocks start higher on China news, Italy under the spotlight
Stocks have started the session higher on news of a truce between China and the US in their running trade dispute.