London, Dec 24, 2025 — UK equity markets traded with a positive bias in early sessions on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and broader indices posting modest gains, supported by strength in mining, energy, and telecom stocks.
📈 FTSE Indices Snapshot
FTSE 100 rose to 9,889.22, up 0.24%
FTSE 250 gained 0.03% to 22,349.55
FTSE 350 advanced 0.21%
FTSE All-Share climbed 0.21%
FTSE AIM All-Share slipped 0.22%, underperforming larger peers
Market sentiment remained cautious but constructive, as investors selectively accumulated blue-chip stocks ahead of year-end.
🚀 Top FTSE 100 Gainers in Focus
Mining and energy counters dominated the risers list, reflecting firm commodity prices:
Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) jumped 6.8%, leading the index
Anglo American (AAL) rose 3.03%
Antofagasta (ANTO) added 2.11%
BT Group (BT.A) gained 1.54%
Airtel Africa (AAF) advanced 1.44%
Rio Tinto (RIO) climbed 1.11%
Legal & General (LGEN) and Pershing Square Holdings (PSH) each added about 1%
Analysts pointed to continued demand for metals and improved sentiment around global growth as key drivers behind the rally in mining stocks.
📊 Market View
Despite thin holiday trading volumes, London markets showed resilience, with heavyweight miners providing crucial support to the FTSE 100. Small-cap stocks, however, remained under pressure, as reflected in the weaker AIM performance.
