11.04.202507:49:59UTC+00FTSE 100 Rises after Strong GDP Data

The FTSE 100 index experienced a modest increase of 0.5% on Friday, building on a notable 3% surge observed on Thursday. This upward trajectory came after the United Kingdom's GDP report exceeded expectations, with the economy expanding by 0.5% in February, significantly above the 0.1% anticipated by economists. The gains were largely driven by the mining sector, as gold producers Fresnillo and Endeavour saw their shares climb by 5.4% and 4%, respectively, amid a continuing rise in gold prices. Additionally, shares of Glencore and Rio Tinto rose between 2% and 2.5%. Conversely, BP shares declined by over 2% following a disappointing production forecast, indicating that upstream output in the first quarter would fall compared to the previous quarter. Despite these gains, the FTSE 100 remains approximately 1.5% lower for the week, affected by last week's significant 7% decline, which was largely spurred by persisting concerns over the U.S.-China trade tensions.