London markets limp to gains as bleak GDP reading hits sterling

The London markets limped towards a marginal rise as sentiment cooled throughout the trading session while bleak GDP figures weighed on the pound. Traders saw the FTSE make a small rebound following a dire showing on Thursday but failed to match early hopes after falling from intraday highs. Across the Atlantic, the Dow Jones had a strong start, pulling some ground from Thursday on the back of gains from volatile travel stocks. Miners and travel firms helped to buoy the FTSE 100 slightly higher on Friday as multinationals made particularly strong gains. In company news, Informa jumped after it told investors that major events could be back on the cards in China next month. Pub and bar operator Mitchells & Butlers moved higher after it secured £100 million in extra funding from its banks. The price of oil rebounded as a mixture of short covering and bargain hunting helped the energy market on the road to recovery.

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