FTSE 100 Trades Higher
2026-05-26 07:47
By
Agna Gabriel
1 min. read
The FTSE 100 climbed more than 0.5% on Tuesday, outperforming weaker European markets as investors returned from Monday’s UK holiday.
Brent crude moved higher following renewed tensions in the Middle East after US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and other sites.
Defence stocks advanced, with BAE Systems up 0.5%, Babcock rising 2.1% and Rolls Royce gaining 1%.
Pharmaceutical shares also supported the index, with AstraZeneca and GSK both adding between 0.5% and 1%.
Banks moved firmly higher, including Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, NatWest and Standard Chartered, all up more than 1%, while HSBC also gained.
Mining shares strengthened across the board, with Endeavour Mining up 3%, Rio Tinto and Glencore rising more than 2%, and Antofagasta and Anglo American also moving higher.
Fresnillo added 0.3%.
Economic data showed UK shop price inflation accelerated to 1.2% yoy in May, according to the BRC, although food inflation eased slightly to 2.7%.