The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.60% Higher

The FTSE 100 traded higher on Thursday, extending the previous session’s 0.3% gain, supported by strength in financial and mining stocks. HSBC Holdings advanced more than 2%, while Lloyds Banking and Barclays gained around 0.7% each. Standard Chartered climbed nearly 3% and NatWest also moved higher. Mining shares also contributed, with Rio Tinto rising about 1.6%, Glencore up 1%, Anglo American and Antofagasta adding around 2%, and Fresnillo gaining 2.5%. Intertek shares increased more than 2.5% after the testing and inspection group extended the deadline for potential bidders to submit final offers to June 18. In contrast, Halma fell more than 11% despite reporting higher annual profits and a strong start to the new financial year. Elsewhere, Wizz Air posted profit growth slightly ahead of expectations despite disruption to Middle East routes. Frasers Group also made a €2 billion offer to acquire the remaining stake in Hugo Boss, offering €38 per share.

The FTSE 100 Index is picking up 61 points or 0.60 percent on Thursday. Gains are led by Prudential (4.15%), Standard Chartered (3.02%) and Intertek (2.93%). Biggest losers are Halma (-10.25%), Intermediate Capital (-2.92%) and The Sage Group (-2.67%).

The FTSE 100 Index rose 30 points or 0.30 percent on Wednesday to close at 10258 points. Leading the gains are Frasers Group (3.91%), Entain (3.19%) and Land Securities (3.10%). Top losers were Endeavour (-4.02%), Vistry Group (-3.21%) and Mondi (-2.33%).