In stock market deals London gained solidly as the pound slid, while Paris and Frankfurt had only small gains to show for the day's trading.
As so often before, sheer uncertainty over Britain’s future weighed on sterling, but the currency’s downside was limited by expectations that the exit from the EU will be softened by some kind of agreement with the bloc. She is also holding a third day of talks with opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a way to avert a messy no-deal divorce.“The idea of a longer delay was something of a relief to sterling, given that currently the UK is set to leave the EU next Friday,” noted Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell.
“After disappointment in February, job creation bounced back nicely in March,” ING chief international economist James Knightley said.Asian equity indices mostly rose in holiday-thinned trade on hopes that China and the United States will hammer out a trade deal after both sides sounded notes of optimism.