FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Rises for 2nd Session

The FTSE 100 experienced a modest increase on Wednesday, bolstered by advances in consumer staples, industrials, and banking stocks. Notable performers included British American Tobacco, which climbed more than 2%, Rolls-Royce, up over 1.5%, and both Barclays and NatWest, which each gained over 1%. In the healthcare sector, AstraZeneca and GSK saw positive movement, despite President Trump's proposition of a 200% tariff on pharmaceutical imports unless companies transfer production to the United States within a year. Nevertheless, these gains were tempered by declines in the mining and advertising sectors. WPP emerged as the largest decliner, plummeting over 18% following a reduction in its full-year sales and margin projections, now anticipating a 3–5% drop in like-for-like revenue, as opposed to its former estimate of flat to a -2% decrease. Mining stocks were under pressure after Trump's sudden proposal of a 50% tariff on copper imports negatively impacted shares of Antofagasta, Anglo American, and Glencore, all of which decreased by roughly 3%.