The FTSE 100 opened Thursday’s session positively, outperforming expectations backed by strength in mining stocks. The benchmark index climbed 0.6%, adding nearly 62 points to trade at 10,216, supported by gains across banking and travel stocks.
Mining shares led the index supported by a rally in metals and precious commodities. Glencore climbed 3% to £523.6 buoyed by its latest production update and firm commodity prices.
Anglo American advanced 3.77% to £3,677, while Rio Tinto gained 2.64% to reach £6,929, reflecting optimism around global demand.
Endeavour Mining rose 6.05% to £4,804, while Fresnillo added 3.79% to £4,272, tracking the sharp surge in gold and silver prices.
Gold was trading near a record $5,584 per ounce, up roughly 3% in Asian hours, extending a near 5% jump from the previous session.
3I Group climbed 14.14% to £3,592, while Antofagasta jumped 6.23% to £3,939.
On the downside, Ashtead Group declined 3.58% to £4,929, while Perishing Square Holdings backed 1.01% to £4,550.
London Stock Exchange Group dipped 0.51% to £8,254, while Sage Group declined 2.23% to £973.20.
Easyjet today said demand for the summer is building after January saw record bookings. The update came as the group posted a loss before tax of £93 million for the three months to 31 December, around £32 million higher than the previous year.
The number of passengers in the period rose by 7%, which with seat capacity growth of 5% meant a 90% load factor on the airline’s planes.
Chief executive Kenton Jarvis said “We remain committed to delivering sustainable value and continue to progress towards our medium-term target of generating over £1 billion in profit before tax.”
Lloyds Banking Group has launched a £1.8 billion share buyback after profit exceeded expectations for FY25.
The group now expects its return on tangible equity, which is a key industry measure, to exceed 16% in 2026. That compares with last year’s 12.9% and the 15.7% seen in the fourth quarter.
Net interest income hit £13.6 billion, up 6% compared with 2024 where rates were at a post-financial crisis high of 5.25%.
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UK economic data paints a cautious picture. Research showed the number of firms in critical financial distress surged 43.8% year-on-year in the final quarter of 2025, with more than 67,000 companies classified as severely distressed.
Consumer-facing sectors such as leisure, hospitality, and restaurants saw increases ranging from 39% to nearly 60%.
UK vehicle production fell 15% in 2025, with car output down 8% and commercial vehicle production plunging 62%.
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