High-div stocks pace gains

Losses on the top flight index were contained by gains in shares of several of the most-reliable dividend payers on the London market, including the likes of BP, British American Tobacco and Royal Dutch Shell.

Hence, a certain safe-haven bid, even within pound assets, appeared to be the main driver behind Thursday's price action.

That made for a sharp distinction when compared with the steep falls seen on the FTSE 250, which is moe sensitive to risks to the domestic economy and, naturally, the risk of Brexit.

To take note of nevertheless, gains for big oil came about even in the face of a sharp drop in crude oil futures.

Indeed, losses in real estate investment and industrial engineering stocks saw the second-tier index close the session 1.63% lower at 16,032.04.

Earlier in the day, a telephone poll from Ipsos MORI carried out on behalf of the Evening Standard revealed that support for 'Remain' was now at just 47.0%, down by a massive 10 percentage points from the last such poll, with the 'Leave' camp having gained the difference, with its backing rising to 53.0%.

The Bank of England broached the subject in its policy deliberations on Thursday.

Indeed, while the Monetary Policy Committee kept policy unchanged it also intensified the tone of its warnings regarding the potential for costly disruptions from Brexit not just to the UK economy but to those of its trading partners.

“The outcome of the referendum continues to be the largest immediate risk facing UK financial markets, and possibly also global financial markets,” the MPC said.

In an unexpected turn of events, BoE Governor Mark Carney cancelled the speech he had been set to deliver at Mansion House, following the killing of lawmaker Jo Cox earlier in the day.

Top performing sectors so far today
Oil & Gas Producers 6,299.66 +0.89%
Tobacco 49,037.96 +0.76%
Personal Goods 26,719.09 +0.51%
Beverages 15,354.15 +0.44%
Fixed Line Telecommunications 4,573.48 +0.33%

Bottom performing sectors so far today
Industrial Metals & Mining 1,144.42 -7.11%
Industrial Engineering 7,865.43 -2.73%
Real Estate Investment & Services 2,511.37 -2.23%
Software & Computer Services 1,608.32 -1.90%
Chemicals 10,558.59 -1.87%