Finance
London stocks muted after geopolitical jitters, miners rise
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Summary
London stocks remain steady amid geopolitical concerns, with miners seeing gains. Industrial shares and travel stocks face pressure.
London Markets Steady Amid Geopolitical Concerns, Miners Surge
Market Overview and Key Movements
Jan 26 (Reuters) - London shares began the week on a subdued note on Monday, with gains in metal miners offsetting losses in industrial stocks, as caution lingered in markets after recent geopolitical turbulence.
Impact of Geopolitical Tensions
As of 1017 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index and the mid-cap index FTSE 250 were little changed.
Performance of Miners and Financial Shares
Industrial shares weighed most heavily on London markets, falling 1.4%. Travel and leisure stocks dropped over 1%, pressured by broader geopolitical worries and rising oil prices.
Economic Indicators and Investor Sentiment
The cautious tone reflects continued investor apprehension after last week's turmoil sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's Greenland-linked tariff threats against Britain and other European nations.
While the threat has since been withdrawn, investors continue to debate the long-term implications for global trade if tariffs become a standard bargaining tool. Fresh U.S. sanctions targeting Iran have further reinforced market anxiety.
On the flip side, precious metal miners hit record highs, gaining 3.6%, while industrial metal miners climbed 0.9%, buoyed by optimism over the broader commodities outlook and new peaks in precious metals.
Financial shares remained in demand, with banks and life insurers rising 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively.
HSBC and NatWest are set to follow their European rivals in lifting key profit targets when they report annual earnings in the coming weeks, according to people close to the matter.
On the economic front, Britain's economy has shown signs of recovery since finance minister Rachel Reeves' annual budget statement in November, following months of uncertainty for employers and households.
Investors are also focused on the Federal Reserve's policy decision later this week. While the U.S. central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady, concerns about its independence are likely to take center stage.
Among individual movers, private hospital group Spire Healthcare jumped 16% after announcing it is in early-stage talks with several buyout firms, including alternative asset fund manager Bridgepoint and Triton Partners, to "explore strategic options."
Shares of Bridgepoint were down 2.5%.
(Reporting by Ragini Mathur in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
Key Takeaways
- •London stocks remain steady amid geopolitical concerns.
- •Metal miners see gains, offsetting industrial stock losses.
- •Geopolitical tensions influence market sentiment.
- •Precious metal miners hit record highs.
- •Financial shares show positive movement.
Frequently Asked Questions about London stocks muted after geopolitical jitters, miners rise
1What is the FTSE 100?
The FTSE 100 is a stock market index that represents the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, based on market capitalization.
2What are industrial shares?
Industrial shares are stocks of companies involved in the production and manufacturing of goods, often sensitive to economic cycles.
3What are precious metal miners?
Precious metal miners are companies that extract valuable metals such as gold and silver from the earth, often seen as safe investments during market volatility.
