UK shares rise as softer oil, easing gilt yields lift sentiment

AstraZeneca

06/10/2026 11:43

For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window
Oct 6 - London's FTSE 100 advanced on Tuesday as a retreat in bond yields and softer oil prices calmed investors following last week's bond-market volatility, with financial and consumer staples shares leading the gains.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose 0.5% to 10,554.51 points by 1030 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC also climbed 0.5%.
Oil prices declined as resilient Middle Eastern crude exports and a G7 emergency stockpile release eased supply concerns, although continued security risks in the region limited further losses O/R
Government borrowing costs also eased after 10- and 30-year gilt yields GB10YT=RR, GB30YT=RR surged to multi-decade highs last week, as investors weighed persistent inflation and debt concerns
Markets are now pricing in a 90% chance of a Bank of England rate hike at its November meeting, according to LSEG data
Among sectors, heavyweight financials and consumer staples led the gains on the FTSE 100
A Times report said the government is considering delaying plans to set out a path towards lifting defence spending to 3% of GDP. Defence stocks fell, with BAE Systems BAES.L, Babcock International BAB.L and Rolls-Royce RR.L down between 1.1% and 3%
Informa INF.L topped FTSE 100 gainers, rising 2.8%. The exhibitions group said it would buy events organiser Clarion for £2.24 billion ($3 billion) and spin off its Taylor & Francis academic publishing division
"While separating off the academic publishing business means there is little else to support the business if live events struggle, it at least recognises where the real growth in the business will continue to be," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG
On the FTSE 250, Clarkson CKN.L climbed 6% after the shipping services provider forecast annual underlying pretax profit above market expectations
AstraZeneca AZN.L rose 2.2%. The drugmaker said it would invest more than $1 billion in Massachusetts as part of its broader $50 billion US investment plan
Kenmare Resources KMR.L surged 28% after the titanium minerals miner confirmed it had received a non-binding proposal from International Resources Holdings 

 (Reporting by Ragini Mathur and Darshan Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
 ((darshan.kumar@thomsonreuters.com))