FTSE flies as Boris travels to Brussels for last ditch Brexit deal

FTSE 100 made a strong start on hopes Boris flying off for last-ditch talks might conjure up a last-ditch Brexit deal. London’s blue-chip index rose 50 to 6,608.

Tesco said it will be free to pay a £5bn special dividend to investors towards the end of February 2021 after all the conditions were satisfied for completion of the sale of its Thai and Malaysian businesses The disposal is expected to complete on or around next Friday.

 () has stubbed out its previous earnings guidance for 2020 despite expecting a smaller hit on sales from the coronavirus pandemic. Adjusted, diluted earnings per share are now only expected to grow by mid-single figure percentages

 (LON:VTY said it will consider a dividend this year after strong sales and good cash generation since the end of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The ) , the FTSE 250 housebuilder expects to be debt free by the end of 2021.

Among the small caps, () is set to change its iconic name and become an investment company after raising 

£9mln. The firm is now a cash shell owning only 49% of the truck businesses.

() has received marketing approval in Brazil for specialist cholesterol drug Lojuxta. The drug is used to treat a rare condition where the body finds it difficult to remove bad cholesterol from the blood.

S&U PLC () posted a rebound in trading and profitability despite the lockdown in November. The motor finance group has seen a recovery in demand for used cars.