The UK stock market has delivered its strongest session in six months, capping a remarkable run with another record close.
The FTSE 100 finished the day up 118 points at 10,122, a gain of 1.18% and its highest closing level on record. It marked the biggest daily percentage rise since 10 July and the largest points gain since last April, when markets surged after Donald Trump paused his so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs.
Pharmaceutical stocks were among the standout performers. AstraZeneca jumped nearly 5% to hit a new all-time high, while GSK added 1.5%.
Mining and retail shares also powered higher. Precious metals producer Fresnillo topped the index with a 5.2% gain, riding the day’s rise in gold prices. Next climbed 4.9% after lifting its profit forecasts, giving the market another shot of momentum. Miners and drugmakers more broadly were well represented among the day’s winners.
The rally builds on last Friday’s breakthrough above the 10,000-point mark, reinforcing the sense that the FTSE 100 has entered a new phase after years of lagging its global peers.
