17.12.202508:38:40UTC+00UK Stocks on Strong Note

London's FTSE 100 climbed by 0.9% on Wednesday, surpassing 9,770 and outperforming other regional indices. This gain came amid expectations that the Bank of England would announce an interest rate cut on Thursday, following inflation data that was milder than anticipated. Leading the charge were stocks in the financial sector, particularly those with significant exposure to China, as well as housebuilders, mining companies, and oil producers. Key movers included Phoenix Group, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, which increased by 3.2%, 2.9%, and 2.3%, respectively. In the housing market, Barratt Redrow, Persimmon, and Land Securities each rose by about 2%. Mining giants Fresnillo, Anglo American, and Glencore also posted solid gains. Conversely, Bunzl saw a sharp decline of 7%, positioning it at the bottom of the STOXX 600. This drop followed the company's projection of a slight decrease in its operating margin for 2026, making it the weakest performer on the index.