Market round-up: FTSE follows Nikkei surge as home and health giant Reckitt Benckiser soars

The FTSE 100 rose sharply on Monday (15 February), after Tokyo's Nikkei had its best trading day since 2008.

The Nikkei soared 7.16% despite disappointing macroeconomic data Japanese authorities announced on Monday that the country's economy contracted 0.4% in the last quarter of 2015.

But the market in Tokyo jumped because of the weaker yen against the dollar. Investors hope the stronger US Dollar against the yen would boost the country's exporters. The stock market gained back some of the losses it made last week, when the yen traded stronger against the US currency.

"Poor data from China (Exports, Imports) and Japan (GDP, Industrial Production) added to hopes of more central bank intervention and stimulus which buoyed commodities prices," Michael van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, explained.

The FTSE surged by 2.04%, led by Durex owner Reckitt Benckiser. The home and health products manufacturer said its full-year results exceeded expectations, thanks to a strong performance across both established and developing markets.

In the 12 months to the end of December, total net revenue at the FTSE 100 group grew 5% year-on-year on a constant currency basis to £8.87bn (€11.48bn, $12.87bn), while like-for-like revenue rose by a better-than-expected 6%.

Joining Reckitt Benckiser among the biggest risers was British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). The company's stock received an investment advice update from the Bank of America.

FTSE 100 biggest risers*

Reckitt Benckiser +6.79
Standard Chartered +5.61%
IAG +5.15
Anglo American +5.11
Hammerson +4.58

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Fresnillo -2.64%
Randgold Resources -2.03%
Berkeley -0.63%
BHP Billiton -0.43%
SABMiller -0.24%

FTSE 250 biggest risers

Fidessa +12.08%
Enterprise Inns +7.74%
Tullow Oil +7.66%
NCC +7.55%
Genus +7.19%

FTSE 250 biggest fallers

Acacia Mining -8.01%
Allied Minds -2.33%
Assura -2.12%
Countrywide -2.07%
Zoopla Property -2%

*Based on Hargreaves Lansdown data at 4.50pm GMT after markets closed