Commodity, leisure stocks lead British shares higher on recovery optimism By Reuters

(Reuters) – British shares were boosted on Tuesday by heavyweight commodity and banking stocks, while prospects of a planned economic reopening from a coronavirus lockdown starting next week lifted beaten-down stocks of restaurants and pub operators.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 1.1%. Energy stocks BP (LON:BP) Plc and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) Plc, and miners Rio Tinto (LON:RIO), Anglo American (LON:AAL) and Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) Plc gained between 2.1% and 2.6%, tracking higher crude and metal prices.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said with the vaccine rolling out rapidly across Britain and infection numbers falling, England could proceed to Stage 2 of his roadmap out of lockdown from April 12 with the opening of all shops, gyms, hairdressers and outdoor hospitality areas.

The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index added 0.96% with cruise operator Carnival (NYSE:CCL) Plc jumping 5.3% and providing the biggest boost.

Pub operators and restaurants J D Wetherspoon, Restaurant Group and Marston’s Plc rose between 1.4% and 4% after Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said pubs and restaurants won’t require vaccine certificates in the initial re-opening of England’s economy.