UK defence stocks rise after Merz says Putin–Zelenskiy meeting 'unlikely'

Avon Technologies

29/08/2025 08:56

** UK defence sub-index .FTNMX502010 rises 1.3% to 19,499.6p after German Chancellor Merz says Putin-Zelenskiy meeting unlikely

** Rolls-Royce RR.L leads gains, up 1.6%, second-biggest gainer on FTSE 100 .FTSE, which is down 0.2%

** BAE Systems BAES.L, Babcock BAB.L, Chemring CHG.L, QinetiQ QQ.L and Senior SNR.L climb nearly 1%, while Melrose MRON.L and Avon AVON.L rise about 0.5%

** YTD, as of last close, sub-index up 66.9% vs FTSE 100's 12.5% rise

 (Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru)

 ((DhanushVignesh.Babu@thomsonreuters.com;))