FTSE 100 higher as it shrugs off inflation and interest rate concerns

The FTSE 100 made a strong start to the week as investors shrugged off the inflation and interest rate concerns which bedevilled markets last week.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: “This went against the prevailing mood in Asia which followed in the footsteps of the US in seeing material declines after a key inflation reading closely watched by the US Federal Reserve came in ahead of expectations.

“The obvious concern is that sticky inflation will prompt the Fed to keep rates higher for longer and turn waiting for a pivot to rate cuts into a modern-day version of Waiting for Godot.

“There was volatility in the pound early on Monday as traders waited to see if a deal might be done on the Northern Ireland protocol in the face of opposition from the euro-sceptic wing of the Conservative party and the DUP.”