On Monday, the FTSE 100 experienced a slight decline of 0.2%, influenced by renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, which negatively impacted global market sentiment. Trump's recent statements concerning Greenland have redirected investor focus to trade policy, exerting pressure on more cyclically driven segments of the market. Nonetheless, the UK index appears more resilient than several of its European counterparts, thanks to its diversified sector composition. Sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples have mitigated some of the losses, with AstraZeneca and Unilever posting modest gains of 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively.
Precious metals mining companies have emerged among the top performers, with Fresnillo advancing nearly 5% and Endeavour Mining rising approximately 2.7%. Other mining entities, including Antofagasta, Glencore, and Rio Tinto, have also seen increases ranging from 0.6% to 0.8%. Additionally, defence stocks have contributed to the index's resilience, highlighted by BAE Systems climbing 1.6% and Babcock International gaining 1.1%. These upticks have partially counterbalanced the declines in banking stocks, which are typically more vulnerable to uncertainties in economic and trade matters.
