FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Trades Cautiously Higher Near Record High

On Monday, the FTSE 100 experienced a modest uptick, remaining near its peak levels as investors processed the weekend's geopolitical events. Notably, the index's rise was fueled by gains in precious metal mining companies, such as Endeavour and Fresnillo. These companies benefited from an increase in gold and silver prices, spurred by amplified global uncertainty following the US President's decision to challenge the leadership in Venezuela. Defence stocks, including Babcock, Melrose, and BAE Systems, also performed well due to escalating geopolitical tensions. Furthermore, copper mining companies saw an uptick, reflecting rising copper prices amid supply concerns and the looming possibility of additional US tariffs. However, energy stocks such as Shell and BP exerted downward pressure on the index.