Finance
Britain's FTSE 100 hits new peak on miners strength, on track for eighth monthly gain
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 27, 2026
3 min readLast updated: February 27, 2026
Quick Summary
London’s FTSE 100 hit a fresh record around 10,900 on Feb. 27, extending a rally that has it on pace for an eighth straight monthly gain, led by miners amid tariff-driven demand for gold and copper. Stock-specific moves were also notable, with Rightmove jumping on a £90m buyback and Senior surging o
FTSE 100 hits record high as miners fuel eighth monthly rise
Market wrap: FTSE 100 record, miners lead, stocks and politics in focus
FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 performance
Feb 27 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 climbed to a fresh record high on Friday and was set for its eighth straight monthly rise, boosted by heavyweight miners as lingering tariff concerns fuelled safe-haven demand in some commodities.
The blue‑chip FTSE 100 rose 0.5% to 10,900 points as of 1022 GMT, while the mid‑cap FTSE 250 was up 0.2%, less than 2% from its 2021 peak.
Commodities and miners drive gains
Safe-haven demand lifts gold and copper
Precious‑metal miners and industrial‑metal miners rose as demand for gold and copper increased, with investors flocking to safe‑haven assets amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies and heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Mining stocks’ contribution to the index
Mining stocks have been among the biggest contributors to the FTSE 100’s gains over the past year, supported by sustained tightness in commodity markets and firm metals pricing. [GOL/] [MET/L]
The FTSE 100 is on track for its longest monthly winning streak since 2012–2013.
Rates outlook and broader market themes
February outperformance and Bank of England expectations
The index has gained 6.6% in February, outperforming U.S. and European benchmarks as optimism around a potential Bank of England rate cut in March lifted sentiment. At times, however, gains have been tempered by worries that emerging AI tools could disrupt established business models, as well as trade-related uncertainties from U.S. President Donald Trump's fresh tariffs earlier this month.
Stock movers: Rightmove, Wizz Air, Senior
Rightmove leads on buyback and earnings
Among others, Rightmove rose 4.7% to the top of the benchmark index after the UK’s biggest property portal posted in‑line annual profit and announced a 90 million pounds share buyback.
Wizz Air drops after share sale
Wizz Air slid 10.5% after major shareholder Indigo Partners sold 10 million shares at 1,250 pence apiece in a placement worth about 125 million pounds ($168.7 million).
Senior jumps on takeover interest
Senior was up 18.2% after the engineering firm said it had received several takeover approaches in recent months and is considering two, with talks ongoing with an undisclosed bidder.
UK politics: Labour setback in Manchester
Green Party win highlights shifting voter dynamics
On the political front, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered a defeat to the Green Party in a Manchester ward it had dominated for nearly a century, underscoring the fragmentation of Britain’s traditional two‑party system.
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
Key Takeaways
- •Miners helped drive the FTSE 100 to a new peak as investors leaned into safe-haven/real-asset exposure (notably gold) and remained constructive on industrial metals such as copper amid ongoing trade-policy uncertainty. (uk.investing.com)
- •Rightmove’s rally was underpinned by shareholder-returns optics: the company outlined a £90m buyback (scheduled to run March 2 to July 31, 2026) alongside results showing 2025 revenue of £425.1m and rising profit. (uk.investing.com)
- •Deal/flow news shaped UK midcaps: Wizz Air fell after Indigo Partners completed a secondary placing (company confirmed settlement expected around March 3, 2026), while Senior jumped after confirming takeover talks and press reports pointing to Advent International among interested parties. (investegate.co.uk)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain's FTSE 100 hits new peak on miners strength, on track for eighth monthly gain
1Why did the FTSE 100 reach a new record high?
The index was lifted by heavyweight mining stocks as demand rose for commodities such as gold and copper amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies and elevated geopolitical tensions.
2How much did the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 rise in the session?
The FTSE 100 was up 0.5% to about 10,900 points, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.2% and was less than 2% from its 2021 peak.
3What monthly streak is the FTSE 100 on track to achieve?
It was set for its eighth straight monthly rise, which would be its longest monthly winning streak since 2012–2013.
4Which notable UK stocks moved sharply and why?
Rightmove rose after posting in-line annual profit and announcing a £90 million share buyback; Wizz Air fell after Indigo Partners sold 10 million shares in a placement; Senior jumped after saying it received multiple takeover approaches and is considering two.
