HOW BRITAIN'S BIGGEST HAVE PERFORMED

The FT-SE 100 index rose 3.6 per cent or 175.6 points on the week as shares mirrored gains on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which climbed 1.8 per cent to 7,878.37. Engineering stocks such as British Steel and TI Group were among the biggest percentage gainers during the week as the pound fell against major currencies.

Building companies such as Barratt Developments and Beazer Homes are likely to be the focus this week when they report earnings. Tarmac and Ibstock will also publish results.

Shares in RMC Group, Britain's biggest building materials company, dropped 5.3 per cent on Thursday after the company warned it expects a decline in sales in Germany, its largest market, as the pound gained against the mark. Other building companies such as Redland, with significant overseas earnings, may be hurt for similar reasons.

Copyright: IOS & Bloomberg