Market round-up: FTSE 100 major mining stocks jump on back of China government stimulus

The FTSE 100 closed up 57.50 points, on 7,052.13, after a quiet day's trading on 20 April, with three major commodities companies taking up spots in the top five risers.

Supermarket giant Tesco slipped 0.72% ahead of results due to be published on 22 April.

The share prices of mining firms jumped after the Chinese government announced it was cutting the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves.

Designed to spur growth in the world's biggest metals consumer and second-biggest economy, the move sparked demand for mining stocks on the FTSE 100.

The UK's FTSE has risen 7% since the start of 2015, a relatively small gain compared with other European economies. Both the French CAC and the German DAX have gained more than 20% in 2015.

The relatively subdued atmosphere on the FTSE has been attributed to the upcoming elections in the UK, where the opposition Labour party is threatening to take a significant share of the vote.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

Ashtead Group plc +32.00 (+2.88%) 1,144.00
Anglo American +27.50 (+2.72%) 1,038.00
Rio Tinto plc +73.00 (+2.61%) 2,874.00
BHP Billiton plc +35.50 (+2.46%) 1,481.50
InterContinental Hotels Group plc +64.00 (+2.35%) 2,786.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Fresnillo -12.50 (-1.72%) 716.00
Associated British Foods plc -43.00 (-1.48%) 2,863.00
Capita plc -14.00 (-1.25%) 1,107.00
G4S Plc -3.20 (-1.07%) 295.00
Persimmon plc -17.00 (-0.98%) 1,716.00