London's equity market closed higher on Tuesday, with the United Kingdom 100 index registering a 0.51% gain at the end of the trading day. Strength in the Banking, Electrical and Gas, and Water & Multiutilities sectors supported the advance.
Top and bottom performers
The session's leading riser was HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBA), which climbed 2.82% - an increase of 35.00 points - to finish at 1,277.20. Vistry Group PLC (VTYV) also posted a notable advance, adding 2.71% or 17.60 points to close at 666.60. NatWest Group PLC (NWG) rose 2.65%, up 17.20 points, to end the day at 667.60.
On the downside, Fresnillo PLC (FRES) registered the steepest loss, sliding 6.92% or 308.00 points to close at 4,140.00. Relx PLC (REL) declined 5.13% or 147.00 points to 2,720.00, while Sage Group PLC (SGE) fell 5.12% or 53.40 points to 989.60.
Market breadth and notable levels
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the London Stock Exchange, with 972 stocks rising versus 796 falling; 534 shares finished unchanged. During the session, HSBC shares reached an all-time high, while Relx shares fell to 52-week lows. NatWest shares reached 5-year highs.
Commodities and currencies
In commodities markets, Gold Futures for April delivery dipped 0.01% - down 0.71 - to $5,121.59 a troy ounce. Crude oil for March delivery rose 2.26% or 1.37 to $62.00 a barrel, and the April Brent contract gained 2.05% or 1.33 to trade at $66.10 a barrel.
Foreign exchange moves included GBP/USD advancing 0.67% to 1.38, while EUR/GBP was essentially unchanged, moving 0.10% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures fell 0.77% to 96.11.
Implications
The session featured clear sector divergence: financials and certain utilities enjoyed strength, while select miners and information-services stocks recorded outsized declines. Market breadth favored gainers, but the pullback among several large-cap names contributed to headline index volatility.
Note: All price moves and levels are reported as recorded at the close of trading.