UK equities closed on a mildly positive note with the FTSE 100 gaining 16.48 points (+0.16%) to 10,386.23, supported by selective buying across heavyweight stocks. The broader market also stayed firm as FTSE 250 climbed 0.57% to 23,340.03, FTSE 350 added 0.20% to 5,652.70, and FTSE All-Share advanced 0.21% to 5,591.38, signalling stable underlying momentum despite pressure in select blue-chips. The FTSE AIM All-Share outperformed with a 1.27% rise to 817.04, indicating stronger risk appetite in mid- and small-cap counters.
On the downside, NatWest Group (NWG) tumbled 5.98% to 620.00, emerging as the top loser, followed by British American Tobacco (BATS) down 3.32% to 4,456.00 and Barratt Redrow (BTRW) slipping 2.75% to 375.40. Telecom major BT Group (BT.A) declined 2.52% to 201.40, while Auto Trader (AUTO) fell 2.35% to 474.40 and Marks & Spencer (MKS) dropped 2.23% to 377.80. United Utilities (UU.) lost 2.08% and Compass Group (CPG) eased 2.07%, reflecting broad-based weakness across banking, tobacco, housing and consumer sectors.
Despite stock-specific declines, the broader index resilience suggests defensive positioning and selective institutional accumulation, keeping the UK market in a narrow but positive range amid global cues.
