United Kingdom: FTSE 100 Hits New Record.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.9% to a record high of 10,402 on Wednesday, as gains in healthcare, defensive sectors and oil majors offset declines in mining and AI-exposed stocks. GSK surged more than 7% after a strong fourth-quarter earnings report, reaffirming its guidance for 2026 and long-term sales targets above analyst expectations. Shell rose almost 3% and BP gained around 2.5% as crude prices climbed for a second session amid rising US–Iran geopolitical tensions. Mining shares fell, with Fresnillo down nearly 3.3%, Endeavour 2.5% lower, Antofagasta off more than 5%, and Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Glencore also lower, as gold, silver and copper prices weakened. Stocks seen as vulnerable to artificial intelligence disruption extended losses, with Relx down 1%, London Stock Exchange Group falling 1.6% and WPP down 2.6%, reflecting investor concerns over AI-related risks to their business models.