FTSE 100 rises as investors await Warsh speech at Jackson Hole

UK stocks moved higher on Friday, with the FTSE 100 gaining 0.4% as investors awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium later in the day.

Despite the advance, the benchmark was on course to finish a volatile week broadly unchanged. Friday’s move followed a 0.8% decline in the previous session.

Gains among industrial mining companies and domestically focused mid-cap stocks provided support, while energy majors Shell and BP remained relatively subdued.

Trading remained relatively restrained ahead of Warsh’s address, with investors looking for further indications on the outlook for U.S. monetary policy.

The upcoming speech limited significant positioning across sectors as markets awaited the Federal Reserve chair’s comments.

Meanwhile, UK economic data provided a more positive domestic signal. A Lloyds Bank survey released on Friday showed business confidence increased four percentage points in August to +53%, its highest level since March.

The reading was above the 12-month average of 47%, with the survey pointing to stronger consumer spending power, improved trading prospects and a more favourable assessment of the UK economic outlook.

Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL) has ended negotiations to sell its 37.5% interest in Germany’s PCK Schwedt refinery to Polish energy company Unimot, according to Bloomberg News.

The refinery has links to Russia, and the source material does not provide further details on why the negotiations ended or Shell’s plans for the stake.

Shell shares were around 0.4% higher during Friday’s session.

BP PLC (LSE:BP.) called on the leadership of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 to agree to federal mediation and resume formal contract negotiations concerning a months-long labour dispute at its Whiting refinery in Indiana.

The facility has a processing capacity of 440,000 barrels per day.

BP shares were also around 0.4% higher on Friday.

Global crude oil prices declined on Friday, leaving Brent crude on course to end a two-week run of weekly gains.

The decline followed a higher settlement on Thursday after reports that the U.S. administration remained unwilling to return to previous agreement terms with Iran.

Movements in oil prices continued to provide a backdrop for trading in the FTSE 100’s major energy companies.

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