The UK stock market’s historic rally continues, with the FTSE 100 rising for a 16th consecutive session—its longest winning streak on record.
London’s blue-chip index closed up 1 point, or 0.07%, at 8,597 today, adding to the momentum that began late last month. The modest gain cements the FTSE 100’s recovery from the sharp sell-off in early April, when it tumbled to 7,544 amid panic sparked by Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement.
Gold miners led the charge, with Endeavour Mining jumping 5.2% and Fresnillo up 4.7%. Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s also performed strongly, rising 3.4%.
The rebound gathered pace after President Trump delayed most of the proposed tariffs by 90 days, easing investor concerns and fuelling the index’s climb.
Here’s a visual of the FTSE 100’s record-breaking 16-session winning streak, showing its steady recovery since early April.
Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, attributes the FTSE 100’s recent gains to its appeal as a relatively stable and defensive investment option amid global uncertainty.
The FTSE100 remains something of a beacon of light compared to many of its global peers, with its suite of relatively stable and defensive sectors playing into investors’ desire for alternative investment destinations.
Coupled with an undemanding valuation both historically and globally, alongside an average dividend yield of 3.5%, the index has added 5.6% this year, and at the open further resilience was in evidence. A broad mark up incorporated both defensive and cyclical sectors, the latter of which resulted in some strength in the likes of the retailers and the housebuilders.”
