Market round-up: Banks and miners push FTSE 100 close to record high

The UK's top share index climbed towards a record high on 24 April, led by major bank HSBC, which said it was considering moving its headquarters outside of the UK amid uncertainty over the country's future within the European Union.

Stock in Europe's biggest bank ended the day up 2.86%, after it announced a review into its headquarters. Founded in Asia and formerly based in Hong Kong, HSBC has been a vocal critic of UK banking regulation passed in the wake of the 2007-09 global financial crisis.

Mining stocks also boomed, with Glencore gaining 2.6%, after industrial metals prices rallied. Among the movers, BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defence contractor, gained 2.28%.

On the downside, Pearson slipped 3% after it announced chairman Glen Moreno would stand down, and AstraZeneca fell 1.7% after reporting a 6% fall in first quarter sales. The index closed at 7,070.70, up 0.24% for the day but shy of the record high seen earlier in April.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

HSBC Holdings plc +17.50 (+2.86%) 629.70
Glencore plc +7.90 (+2.60) 311.20
CRH plc +45.00 (+2.43%) 1,900.00
Mondi plc +32.00 (+2.42%) 1,354.00
BAE Systems plc +11.50 (+2.28%) 515.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Pearson plc -42.00 (-3.00%) 1,360.00
Aberdeen Asset Management -13.90 (-2.85%) 473.60
Randgold Resources -85.00 (-1.69%) 4,950.00
AstraZeneca plc -80.50 (-1.67%) 4,749.50
Hargreaves Lansdown plc -20.00 (-1.67%) 1,181.00