FTSE 100 Breaks Higher as Schroders Surges, FTSE 250 Flat

The FTSE 100 gained 0.3% on Thursday morning, extending Wednesday’s sharp move higher that lifted the index out of a brief consolidation phase.

The benchmark is now up 5.7% year-to-date.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 was unchanged and remains in a consolidation/flag pattern, but is attempting to break above the key resistance level around 23,580. European sentiment was upbeat, with the DAX rising 1.1% and the CAC 40 up 1%.

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Schroders dominated the blue-chip leaderboard, soaring more than 28% after its board and the board of Nuveen agreed terms for a recommended cash acquisition by Pantheon, a newly created subsidiary of Nuveen.

Shareholders are set to receive up to 612 pence per share, consisting of 590 pence in cash and permitted dividends of up to 22 pence. If paid in full, the offer values Schroders at about £9.9 billion and represents a 34% premium to its closing price of 456 pence on 11 February.

Unilever and RELX also reported earnings, with Unilever trading lower following the report, contributing to the day’s laggards.

The biggest FTSE 100 risers included Schroders, up 28.8%, followed by Metlen Energy & Metals, up 3.7%, and St. James’s Place, up 2.6%. Rentokil fell 4%, while British Land and Land Securities dropped 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively.

In the FTSE 250, Morgan Sindall climbed 6.5% after the company said it expects 2026 results to come in ahead of expectations, supported by a record order book of £19.1 billion and stronger prospects for its Fit Out division. Aberdeen Group rose 3.4%, while Savills and Greencore slid 9.9% and 5.1%.