FTSE awaits US jobs figure while travel stocks continue higher and

The FTSE 100 is taking a ‘wait and see approach’ with the US jobs figures due to be published later. So far miners are doing the best on the bourse, with BHP and Rio Tinto the top risers. 

More relief for the travel industry this week after rules on testing are eased for people travelling to England. From today fully vaccinated travellers coming to or back to England will no longer have to take a test before they travel. And from this Sunday, people can take a cheaper lateral flow test on day two of arrival, rather than a PCR. 

The travel stocks have had a good week overall, with BA owner IAG, easyJet and Wizz among biggest gainers. 

UK house prices increased by 9.8% last year according to the Halifax, the fastest annual increase since July 2007 – as buyers sought more space, took advantage of low-cost borrowing and stamp duty holidays. Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey PLC (LSE:TW.) (Taylor Wimpey PLC (LSE:TW.)) edged higher in response. A glimmer of light though for first-time buyers, Halifax does expect house price growth to slow in 2022.

Trade unions and fair pay campaigners are calling for wage rises to reduce disparities between executives and workers. This comes at a time when homes are struggling with the highest inflation seen in over a decade here in the UK.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LSE:RDSB) (Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LSE:RDSB)) has launched a US$5.5bn share buyback scheme for investors. This follows on from regaining its crown from AstraZeneca as the most valuable FTSE 100 company earlier this week.

Acquisition news today comes from Smiths Group (LSE:SMIN) plc confirmed today that it has completed the sale of Smiths Medical to ICU Medical for US$2.7bn. And SDI Group PLC (AIM:SDI) announced the acquisition of Scientific Vacuum Systems Ltd for approximately £4.9 million. 

And Red Rock Resources PLC (AIM:RRR) (Red Rock Resources PLC (AIM:RRR)) released what it called “extremely encouraging” results for nine drill holes at the Mikei Gold Project (MGP) in Kenya.