FTSE 100 ends 2017 at new record high as global markets celebrate $9tn year – business live

All the day’s economic and financial news, as investors count their profits on the final trading day of 2017Latest: FTSE 100 closes at new highMSCI World Index has gained $9 trillion this yearAsian markets have posted best year since 2009European markets post best year since 20132017’s top business stories: Ryanair crisis, hackers and a giant rabbit 1.44pm GMT The FTSE 100 surged by around £141bn during 2017, according to the London stock exchange.The FTSE 250 index, which contains medium-sized companies, gained around £52bn as it rattled to fresh record highs. 1.32pm GMT Shares have been a pretty decent investment this year – giving a rather better return than your local bank.Richard Stone, chief executive of The Share Centre (a retail stockbroker) says there are reasons why shares could keep rising in 2018.“For the second year in a row the FTSE100 has ended the year at an all-time high. Personal investors will have been relieved this year by a respite from the high volatility seen in the last couple of years. The level of volatility this year has though been remarkably low by historical standards and this has perhaps meant fewer trading opportunities for those investors who trade more actively.Market commentators have expressed concerns about valuation levels for some time indicating a correction may be on the horizon. However, the market appears to be shrugging off any such concerns and continuing to go from strength to strength. Higher global growth forecasts, a continuation of relatively relaxed monetary policy and a loosening of fiscal policy specifically in the United States are all helping support equities. A personal investor who put money into a FTSE 100 tracker fund at the start of this year will have seen a return of nearly 8% with a dividend payout (yield) of over 3% on top of that. Continue reading…
Via: FTSE 100 ends 2017 at new record high as global markets celebrate tn year – business live