StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 closed up 0.3% at 7,425.63 with all eyes on the G20 leaders' summit, investors apparently hopeful for signs of progress in trade talks between the US and China.

In the US the S&P 500 was also up 0.3% at 2,934.11 by 4.30pm UK time.

Housebuilders Berkeley, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developments and Persimmon rose 3.8%, 1.3%, 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively on news Boris Johnson plans to reform stamp duty.

International Consolidated Airlines was up 5% and Burberry advanced 4.1% on positive broker comment from Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs respectively

LARGE AND MID CAP RISERS AND FALLERS

Shares in theme park group Merlin Entertainments soared by 14% to 450p after it received a takeover bid from a consortium including the Danish family which owns Lego.

Retirement home developer McCarthy & Stone gained 1.9% as it welcomed news that the UK government had exempted the sector from a regulatory rent cap.

Infrastructure services firm Costain fell 44% as it warned on profit thanks to contract delays.

Woodford Patient Capital Trust dipped 3.1% after the fund vowed to cut debt and said it would consider a share buyback to lift its market value.

Healthcare-focused software firm Craneware fell 37% as it warned on sales in the US.

SMALL CAP RISERS AND FALLERS

Video game developer Codemasters firmed 0.5% as it confirmed the release of car racing video game F1 2019.

West African focused gold miner Avocet Mining slumped 11% after it decided to place itself into voluntary liquidation.

Advanced materials company Versarien jumped 9.5% on news that it had secured its first graphene order from a US based company operating in the oil and gas exploration sector.

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