UK stocks rise as bond rally lifts risk sentiment

Burberry

03/09/2026 17:21

Updates to markets close
Sept 3 (Reuters) - Britain's main stock indexes recovered on Thursday as a rally in global bonds ahead of a U.S. jobs report lifted risk sentiment, while firmer commodity prices provided additional support. 
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE closed 0.7% higher at 10,831.52 points, and the midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC also gained 0.7%, rebounding from a near one-month low.
Britain's 10-year gilt yields GB10YT=RR eased 9.5 basis points from Wednesday's 18-year high, tracking a rally in global bonds and stocks ahead of U.S. nonfarm payrolls data on Friday.
The services sector in the UK grew for the second month in a row in August and confidence rose, a survey showed.  
Rate-sensitive banks .FTNMX301010 rose 1.4%.
Precious metal miners .FTNMX551030 led sectoral gains, rising 3.4%, tracking gains in gold and silver prices.
Healthcare stocks .FTUB2010 advanced 0.6%, with AstraZeneca AZN.L up 1.4%. 
Advertising firm WPP WPP.L rose 5.6% after a media report said its European competitor Publicis PUBP.PA had won the race to handle PepsiCo's media account. That boosted WPP's chances of retaining Coca-Cola outside the United States.
Reuters reported Haleon HLN.L secured better shelf space at major U.S. retailers Walmart and Target to boost its visibility. Still, shares in the Sensodyne toothpaste maker were down 2.3%.
Vodafone VOD.L rose 2.4%. The mobile operator launched its own TV service in Britain and a premium mobile offer with faster speeds.
Hilton Food Group HFG.L jumped 12.2% to hit a one-year high and was among the top gainers in the midcap index after raising its annual profit forecast.

 (Reporting by Anand Gopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar and Andrew Heavens)
 ((AnandGopal.R@thomsonreuters.com))