UK equities closed largely higher, with the market heatmap showing widespread gains across sectors, particularly financials, insurers, and consumer names.
Among the top performers, AAF rose 3.97%, followed by Antofagasta (ANTO) up 3.68%, and Prudential (PRU), which gained 3.17%. Auto Trader (AUTO), NatWest Group (NWG), and Hargreaves Lansdown (HLN) also posted gains of around 3%, reflecting strong buying interest in financial and consumer-facing stocks.
Banking heavyweights including Barclays (BARC), Lloyds (LLOY), HSBC (HSBA), and Standard Chartered (STAN) ended the session higher, while insurers such as Aviva (AV.), Legal & General (LGEN), and M&G (MNG) also advanced.
In the industrial and commodity space, Rolls-Royce (RR.), Rio Tinto (RIO), and BATS registered moderate gains, while consumer names including Marks & Spencer (MKS), Unilever (ULVR), and Diageo (DGE) finished marginally higher.
On the downside, losses were limited and selective. Persimmon (PSN) slipped 0.11%, Segro (SGRO) fell 0.12%, while Melrose Industries (MTLN) and Pearson (PSON) declined 0.12% and 0.14%, respectively.
Overall, the session reflected a constructive tone in UK markets, with investors favouring financials and defensives amid a largely stable broader backdrop.
