London trading ended with the FTSE 100 at a record high, after rising 96 points to close at 9,446. The index is now up about 15% so far this year.
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FTSE 100 closes at record high – up 96 points to 9,446, extending year-to-date gains to ~15%.
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AstraZeneca surges 11%+ – market value tops £192bn, overtaking HSBC to become London’s most valuable listed company.
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GSK +6.1% and Hikma +5.7% – strong gains across pharmaceuticals, driven by relief that proposed 100% US tariffs on branded drugs may be less severe than feared.
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Sector drivers – healthcare led the rally, offsetting wider concerns about global trade tensions.
AstraZeneca jumped more than 11%, lifting its value above £192 billion and pushing it ahead of HSBC to reclaim the title of London’s most valuable listed company. GSK rose 6.1% and Hikma gained 5.7%, leading the day’s other risers as investors welcomed signs that Donald Trump’s threatened 100% tariffs on branded drugs may be less severe than feared.
Elsewhere in the markets, oil prices dropped to a 17-week low today, pressured by expectations of another OPEC+ output increase next month and concerns that the US government shutdown could slow growth.
Brent crude fell 1.1% to $65.31 a barrel, while US crude slipped to $61.69.
