Overview
- The index finished at 10,004.57 after an intraday high of 10,009.35, a 0.54% gain from the prior close of 9,951.14.
- Precious‑metal miners and defence contractors provided most of the lift, with Fresnillo leading and BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls‑Royce advancing.
- GB News cited reports of US action in Venezuela as a market catalyst, while Capital Economics noted Venezuela supplies about 1% of global oil and the effect on prices has been limited.
- A 21.5% advance in 2025 and broader global equity momentum set the backdrop for repeated records entering 2026.
- BP shares rose after the appointment of Meg O’Neill as the next chief executive, while retailers including Next, Sainsbury’s and Tesco fell ahead of trading updates.