The FTSE 100 climbed more than 0.5% on Friday to finish at a record high of 10,687, supported by strength in banking and consumer goods stocks and a tailwind from the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a substantial portion of President Trump’s global tariffs. Sentiment was further lifted by upbeat domestic data, including retail sales, flash February PMIs, and public finance figures, all suggesting the UK economy is on a firmer footing.
Retail sales recorded their fastest growth in 20 months, pointing to resilient consumer demand. At the same time, the UK posted a budget surplus, helped by higher capital gains tax receipts and reduced debt interest payments.
Among individual names, Diageo advanced 4%, BAT rose more than 2%, HSBC added 0.6%, Barclays 1.2%, Lloyds Banking 1.8%, Unilever 1.1%, and Relx 1.7%. Over the week, the FTSE 100 gained 2.3%, securing its fourth consecutive weekly increase.
