FX.co ★ UK Stocks at 1-Month High

On Friday, the UK's FTSE 100 advanced by 0.8%, surpassing the 8,500 mark, reaching its highest point since early April. This upward movement was aligned with European markets as investor optimism grew after Beijing signaled a willingness to engage in trade negotiations with Washington. Simultaneously, market participants kept a close watch on the ongoing earnings season while evaluating economic data from both sides of the Atlantic. In the corporate sphere, Shell emerged as a leader in gains, with its shares climbing over 3% following a report of robust first-quarter profits and an announcement of a $3.5 billion (£2.6 billion) share buyback initiative. NatWest and Standard Chartered also experienced positive traction, bolstered by their favorable first-quarter earnings results. Miners such as Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Anglo American, and Fresnillo further contributed to the index's rise. Conversely, Pearson's shares dropped by nearly 3%, even though the company assured investors that it remains on track to achieve its guidance for fiscal year 2025.