On Wednesday, July 18, an unexpected decline in U.K.'s unemployment rate boosted markets higher. The FTSE 100 index advanced 1.01 per cent to 5,685.77 and British pound strengthened versus the single currency 0.17 per cent to 0.7839. Meanwhile, the boost was supported by the increase of Fresnillo PLC shares by 1.56 per cent, BHP Billiton rose 2.02 per cent and Rio Tinto PLC also increased by 0.45 per cent.