London equity markets rose in early trade on Tuesday, with travel and leisure stocks pacing the advance, as investors mulled the latest UK jobs data. At 0840 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.5% at 6,644.62.
Figures released earlier by the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate hit its highest level in five years in December.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in the three months to the end of December from 5.0% in November, in line with economists’ expectations and marking the highest level since early 2016. Meanwhile, 726,000 jobs were lost since before the pandemic in February 2020. Still, the figures also showed that in January, 83,000 more people were in payrolled employment compared to December 2020, marking the second consecutive monthly increase.
Jarvis Investment Management Ltd offers a wide range of stockbroking and administration services and solutions. Their parent company, Jarvis Securities plc (LON:JIM) is listed on AIM.