FTSE 100 Poised for Second Week of Gains as Tariff Fears Ease
The FTSE 100 is on course for a second straight week of gains, buoyed by hopes that the US and China may roll back some of their trade tariffs, and following a softening of rhetoric from President Donald Trump.
The UK’s leading stock index has risen 1.8% so far this week, though that’s a more modest advance compared to the 3.9% surge seen after Trump announced a 90-day suspension of his most aggressive “liberation day” tariffs.
By mid-session today, the FTSE 100 was up 0.2%, supported by optimism around potential progress in US-China trade talks.
Melrose Industries led the pack, climbing 2.9%, while Rolls-Royce followed with a 2.3% rise.
Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, noted that the FTSE 100’s performance was “impressive, considering its heavy weighting in energy stocks, and the fact oil prices have fallen over 9% in the past month.”
Energy giant Shell edged up 0.4%, while BP remained flat.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 also advanced 0.4% on the day, putting it on track for a weekly gain of 1.8%.
