FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Rebounds on Friday

The FTSE 100 experienced an uptick on Friday, breaking away from a two-day downward trend as the energy, defense, and mining sectors drove the index back into positive territory. The mining industry saw notable gains, fueled by reports of potential merger discussions between Glencore and Rio Tinto, which invigorated merger-and-acquisition optimism. Glencore's shares surged approximately 7.5%, reaching their highest point since July 2024, while other mining companies, such as Antofagasta and Anglo American, also saw advancements amidst the wave of deal speculation throughout the sector. Conversely, Rio Tinto shares decreased by about 3%. Major oil companies, Shell and BP, both rose over 1.5%, as crude oil prices increased for the second consecutive session. Meanwhile, defense stocks, including Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, gained more than 1%, supported by continuing investor interest in the sector. However, healthcare stocks lagged behind, and the retail sector underperformed, marked by Sainsbury's shares dropping over 5% following a lackluster festive season trading report.