FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Snaps 5-Day Losing Streak

The FTSE 100 rose by over 0.5% on Thursday, rebounding after five consecutive days of decline. This recovery was primarily driven by strong performance in oil-related stocks and the defensive sector, with notable gains from Rolls-Royce (+2.3%), BAE Systems (+1.6%), BP (+1%), and Shell (+0.6%). Halma experienced a significant boost of more than 10%, following an upward revision of its guidance due to robust first-half trading, particularly within its Environmental & Analysis division fueled by photonics-led growth. The company now anticipates mid-teens organic growth and an adjusted margin around 22%. However, gains were limited by declines in precious metal miners, such as Fresnillo (-1.6%) and Endeavour (-0.8%). Additionally, Vodafone (-1.5%) and Diageo (-0.7%) put downward pressure on the index. JD Sports also saw a decline of about 0.5% as it adjusted its full-year profit forecast to the lower end of expectations, following a decrease in like-for-like sales during the third quarter. Market sentiment benefitted from Nvidia's performance, which alleviated concerns about the AI cycle by presenting a stronger-than-anticipated revenue outlook. There's speculation that Nvidia's upcoming $500 billion sales surge could surpass projections.