---
title: "FTSE 100 Ends Week Higher as UK services growth and gold lift miners"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2026-08-21T17:25:36+00:00"
modified: "2026-08-21T17:25:36+00:00"
date: 2026-08-21
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category: "Blogs"
categories: ["Blogs", "Business & Support Services", "Technology", "Technology, Media & Telecoms"]
tags: ["Asia", "Bangkok", "Denmark", "Endeavour Mining", "Fed", "Federal Reserve", "Finland", "FRANCE", "FTSE 100", "GERMANY", "Glencore", "Greenland plan", "Hong kong", "Japan", "London", "Manila", "mining stocks", "Mumbai", "Nasdaq Composite", "NATO alliance", "Netherlands", "Nikkei 225", "Norway", "S&P 500", "shanghai", "Singapore", "Sweden", "Sydney", "Taiwan", "UK", "United States", "Wall Street", "Wellington"]
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---

# FTSE 100 Ends Week Higher as UK services growth and gold lift miners

**Published:** August 21, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** Blogs, Business & Support Services, Technology, Technology, Media & Telecoms
**Tags:** Asia, Bangkok, Denmark, Endeavour Mining, Fed, Federal Reserve, Finland, FRANCE, FTSE 100, GERMANY, Glencore, Greenland plan, Hong kong, Japan, London, Manila, mining stocks, Mumbai, Nasdaq Composite, NATO alliance, Netherlands, Nikkei 225, Norway, S&P 500, shanghai, Singapore, Sweden, Sydney, Taiwan, UK, United States, Wall Street, Wellington
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---

The **FTSE 100 ended the week firmly higher on Friday**, supported by stronger-than-expected UK private-sector activity and a surge in precious and industrial metal prices.

London’s blue-chip index gained **68.40 points, or 0.6%, to 10,816.56**, leaving it 0.6% higher for the week. The FTSE 250 advanced 0.9% to 24,718.82, while the AIM All-Share gained 1.0% to 811.96.

UK economic data provided some encouragement after the **S&P Global flash composite PMI rose to a four-month high of 52.5 in August**, ahead of expectations of 51.6. Services activity strengthened to a six-month high of 52.8, although manufacturing eased to 51.5.

Retail and government finances were less encouraging. Retail sales volumes fell **0.5% month-on-month in July**, while public-sector net borrowing of **£1.8 billion** came in considerably above expectations.

**Mining stocks** provided some of the strongest support as commodity prices climbed. **Gold surged above $4,600 an ounce**, while silver and copper also advanced. **Antofagasta j**umped 5.4%, **Endeavour Mining** gained 4.1% and Anglo American rose 2.6%.

**Goldman Sachs** said increased demand for gold call options could amplify further price moves and sees significant upside risk to its **$4,900-an-ounce end-2026 forecast**, while warning that volatility could increase in both directions.

**Oil prices** remained elevated, with **Brent crude reaching $94.08 a barrel**, while government bond yields moved higher again as concerns over US borrowing and inflation persisted.

Among individual stocks, **JD Sports rebounded 5.6%** following Thursday’s profit-warning-driven sell-off. Berenberg said it remained constructive on the retailer’s recovery prospects if consumer and footwear product cycles improve.

On the FTSE 250, **Gamma Communications** surged 12% following takeover interest, while **Domino’s Pizza** gained 5.2% after an upgrade from Shore Capital.

**Hunting** fell 14% after cutting its 2026 EBITDA guidance, citing delays to tendering caused by the Middle East conflict.

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