The UK’s FTSE 100 index kicked off the year on a positive note, driven by strong performances in the aerospace and defense sectors on Tuesday.
Investors also kept a keen eye on upcoming economic data and its potential implications for the Bank of England’s interest rate decisions.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index displayed a 0.3% gain, reaching an impressive seven-month high earlier in the trading session.
In contrast, the mid-cap FTSE 250 index remained relatively flat, underperforming its European counterparts.
Aerospace and defense stocks experienced remarkable success, achieving a record high with a notable 1.3% increase.
Meanwhile, the automobiles and parts index also performed well, rising by 0.8% and reaching a three-month high.
Energy shares saw a 0.6% boost, primarily driven by a 1% surge in oil prices.
These gains were attributed to concerns over potential supply disruptions in the Middle East and expectations of an economic stimulus from China, the world’s largest crude oil importer.
Aldi’s British arm reported a substantial 8% increase in sales for the four-week period ending on December 24, surpassing £1.5 billion ($1.91 billion) for the first time.
Notably, Lidl GB, a smaller rival, outperformed with a remarkable 12% sales increase during the same period.
This intensified competition between the two supermarket giants has led to other retailers offering discounts and promotions, along with innovative strategies to boost customer demand, such as enhanced loyalty programs.
Investors also kept a close watch on various economic indicators, including manufacturing and services activity and housing prices data, to gauge the overall strength of the British economy, which may be facing a potential recession.
Among individual stock movements, Marks and Spencer saw a significant 2.2% increase after Exane BNP Paribas upgraded the retailer’s stock rating from “neutral” to “outperform.”
Conversely, shares of HSBC fell by 0.4% following the completion of its subsidiary, HSBC Continental Europe’s sale of its retail banking business in France to Crédit Commercial de France.
BT Group experienced a 0.7% decline in its stock price, following reports that the outgoing CEO, Philip Jansen, had been approached to become the next chair of advertising group WPP, potentially replacing Roberto Quarta.
These developments kept investors engaged and vigilant in the UK market as they assessed the evolving economic landscape and corporate developments.