FTSE shrugs off dire UK data as markets sense easing of Covid-19 crisis

Dow, German Dax and FTSE all rise amid signs that severity of the crisis may be easing

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Investors were cheered on Monday by signs that the severity of the coronavirus crisis may be easing, helping the FTSE 100 to shrug off dire UK economic data.

The index of blue-chip shares climbed more than 3% to 5,582, raising hopes of a more sustained recovery after five consecutive weekly falls, with positive sentiment in the UK mirrored on Wall Street and other European indices such as Germany's Dax.