The FTSE 100 traded higher on Thursday, building on the previous session’s 0.3% advance, driven by gains in financial and mining stocks. Among the banks, HSBC Holdings rose more than 2%, while Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays each added around 0.7%. Standard Chartered climbed nearly 3%, and NatWest also moved higher.
Miners were another source of support, with Rio Tinto up about 1.6%, Glencore ahead by 1%, and Anglo American and Antofagasta rising around 2% apiece. Fresnillo gained 2.5%.
Intertek shares advanced more than 2.5% after the testing and inspection group extended the deadline for potential bidders to submit final offers to June 18.
By contrast, Halma slumped more than 11% despite reporting higher annual profits and a strong start to the new financial year.
Elsewhere, Wizz Air reported profit growth slightly ahead of expectations, even as it faced disruption on routes to the Middle East. Separately, Frasers Group made a €2 billion bid for the remaining stake in Hugo Boss, offering €38 per share.
