Friday Morning Markets: Miners Rise as Gold and Silver Climb, Craneware Tumbles

London’s FTSE 100 is trading marginally higher on Friday morning, up just 0.1%, while the FTSE 250 has risen 0.5%.

European peers are mixed, with Germany’s DAX climbing 0.5% and the Stoxx 50 adding 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 has slipped 0.1%.

The standout theme this morning is a rally in precious metals, lifting miners across the FTSE 100. 

Spot gold has so far jumped 1.5% to $4,185 an ounce and spot silver has risen 3.1% to $62.869, driving gains at Fresnillo (+2.26%) and Metlen Energy & Metals (+1.77%), with Glencore, Anglo American and Antofagasta each up around 1%. 

Other top FTSE 100 movers include Weir Group (+1.96%) and SSE (+1.87%).

Oil was steadier by comparison, with Brent crude edging up 0.1% to $71.88 and WTI marginally softer at $68.64.

On the downside, IHG (-1.65%), Entain (-1.63%), Tesco (-1.35%) and JD Sports (-1.23%) were among the session’s early fallers.

The morning’s biggest talking point sits outside the blue-chip index, with AIM-listed healthcare software group Craneware seeing shares collapse as much as 24% after warning that FY26 revenue and adjusted EBITDA would come in flat year-on-year and well below prior guidance. 

In the FTSE 250, Close Brothers Group has jumped 5.79%, likely benefiting from relief around the FCA’s motor-finance redress scheme, with parts suspended by the Upper Tribunal, easing near-term capital concerns for lenders exposed to the sector. 

Baltic Classifieds extended Thursday’s slide with a further 2.96% drop, while Ocado fell 2.88%.