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| FTSE 100 higher but estate agents hit | FTSE 100 higher but estate agents hit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| (Open): The UK market opened higher, but shares in estate agents were hit by news that the government is planning a ban on charging fees to tenants. | (Open): The UK market opened higher, but shares in estate agents were hit by news that the government is planning a ban on charging fees to tenants. |
| The FTSE 100 was up 27.42 points at 6,847.14, with precious metal miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources the top risers on the index. | The FTSE 100 was up 27.42 points at 6,847.14, with precious metal miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources the top risers on the index. |
| But in the FTSE 250, news of the ban on letting agents' fees hit shares in Countrywide, which dropped 6%. | But in the FTSE 250, news of the ban on letting agents' fees hit shares in Countrywide, which dropped 6%. |
| Rival Foxtons also suffered, with its shares down 11%. | Rival Foxtons also suffered, with its shares down 11%. |
| "News of a ban on charging fees to tenants comes as a hammer blow to embattled estate agents," said Neil Wilson, markets analyst at ETX Capital. | |
| "Estate agents have suffered since the Brexit vote - shares in Foxtons are still trading down around 30% from their pre-referendum level amid falling client activity. Countrywide stock is now worth a third of what it was in May 2015." | |
| Shares in travel company Thomas Cook rose more than 6% despite it reporting a dip in full-year profits. | Shares in travel company Thomas Cook rose more than 6% despite it reporting a dip in full-year profits. |
| Underlying earnings fell by £2m to £308m in a year where the travel industry has been affected by terror attacks in Europe and political instability in Turkey. | |
| However, Thomas Cook is planning a dividend payment, of 0.5p a share, for the first time in five years. | However, Thomas Cook is planning a dividend payment, of 0.5p a share, for the first time in five years. |
| On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.1% against the dollar to $1.2407, and dipped 0.05% against the euro to €1.1680. | On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.1% against the dollar to $1.2407, and dipped 0.05% against the euro to €1.1680. |