UK armsmaker stocks rise after former defence secretary appointed finance minister

Babcock International

21/07/2026 08:12

    LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - London-listed defense stocks rose on Tuesday, outperforming European peers, a day after Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed former defence minister John Healey as finance minister.
Healey, in June, resigned from Keir Starmer's previous administration saying the then prime minister had been "unable" and the finance ministry "unwilling" to find the money to keep the country safe. 
Babcock International BAB.L shares rose 6.8%, Qinetiq QQ.L gained 4.5% and BAE Systems BAE.L added 3.1%.
The broader European aerospace and defence index gained 1%. .SXPARO 


 (Reporting by Sophie Kiderlin, editing by Alun John)
 ((sophie.kiderlin@thomsonreuters.com))