London | March 17, 2026
UK markets extended gains on Tuesday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 rising 0.83% to 10,403.60, supported by a broad-based rally across sectors.
The positive momentum was visible across broader indices as well. The FTSE 250 climbed 0.75%, while the FTSE 350 and FTSE All-Share Index advanced 0.82% each. Notably, the FTSE AIM All-Share index also gained 0.78%, indicating participation from small-cap stocks.
Top Gainers on FTSE 100
Telecom major Airtel Africa plc emerged as the top gainer, surging 5.40% to 378.40. Banking giant Standard Chartered plc followed with a 3.45% rise, reflecting strength in financial stocks.
Private equity firm 3i Group plc gained 2.90%, while BT Group plc rose 2.52%. Gambling and entertainment company Entain plc advanced 2.44%.
Healthcare and consumer names also saw buying interest, with Haleon plc up 2.41%, while hospitality major InterContinental Hotels Group plc gained 2.27%. Industrial real estate firm Segro plc added 2.15%.
Market View
The rally indicates improving investor sentiment across UK equities, with participation spanning telecom, banking, real estate, and consumer sectors.
The alignment of gains across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap indices suggests a more broad-based recovery compared to the previous session, where gains were relatively selective.
Investors continue to track global cues, including commodity price movements and macroeconomic signals, which remain key drivers for European equity markets in the near term.
