The FTSE 100 extended its recovery on Wednesday morning, rising 1.6% and building on gains made earlier in the week.
The FTSE 250 climbed 1.8%, while European markets also advanced, with the DAX up 2.4% and the CAC 40 gaining 1.9%.
FTSE.INDX
The rally came as investors reacted to renewed hopes of de-escalation in the Iran conflict after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested American strikes could cease within two to three weeks.
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Oil prices eased, weighing on major energy stocks. BP shares fell 1.8%, while Shell declined 1.6%.
Berkeley Group was the index’s biggest faller, plunging more than 17%. The housebuilder outlined a revised strategy for its Berkeley 2035 plan, citing a difficult backdrop of rising costs, heightened regulation, and geopolitical uncertainty.
The company reiterated guidance for FY26 pre-tax profit of £450 million and net cash of around £300 million, but said it would halt new land purchases to focus on extracting value from its existing portfolio.
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At the top of the leaderboard, Rolls-Royce surged 6.3%, followed by Antofagasta, up 6.2%, and IAG, which gained 5.6%.
Meanwhile, in the retail sector, Topps Tiles said it will shut 23 stores in response to softer demand in the home improvement market and mounting cost pressures.
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Sam is a trader and lead stock market writer at AskTraders. After starting his career in the forex market, Sam now focuses on stocks, specifically consumer staples.
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