The FTSE 100 is on track to achieve its longest winning streak ever as it bounces back from the tariff-triggered market turmoil of April.
If the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's premier index maintains its morning rally and closes higher on Friday for the 15th consecutive trading session, it will surpass the current record of 14 days set in 2017, as reported by .
The index saw a near one per cent rise in early trading as companies rallied following first-quarter results.
These gains left the index relatively level with pre-tariff trading.
Natwest experienced a nearly three per cent rise as the market opened, before settling around one per cent.
The firm exceeded analyst profit expectations, raking in £1.8bn. This was fuelled by increased mortgage lending as Brits hurried to beat the stamp duty deadline and a surge in trading income from first-quarter market volatility.
Meanwhile, shares in Shell, the blue-chip index's third-largest constituent, climbed nearly three per cent after the oil behemoth initiated its 14th consecutive quarterly buyback.
The company reported a significant drop in profit for the first three months of the year, primarily due to falling oil prices amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Mining stocks were among the top performers on Friday morning, as metal prices skyrocketed on hopes of reduced tariffs between China and the US.
Anglo American rose nearly two per cent, Antofagasta and Glencore over one per cent, and Rio Tinto almost one per cent.
In other developments, the FTSE 250 saw a one per cent rise in early trading before largely levelling out. If the mid-cap index records a gain, it will secure its longest winning streak since 2020, lasting eight days.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, commented: "The FTSE 100 was on track to prolong its winning streak after indications of a potential easing in the tariff dispute between the US and China boosted investor confidence.
"There were significant gains in Asia and on Wall Street overnight, aided by robust after-hours results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms on Wednesday. However, subsequent mixed earnings from Apple and Amazon may have slightly dampened sentiment."
London outpaces New York markets in recovery
Global markets took a hit at the start of April following President Donald Trump's imposition of extensive tariffs on the US' trade partners.
The FTSE 100 plummeted five per cent on the day China declared reciprocal tariffs against the US.
The index dropped to a low of 7679.48 on April 9 as trade war tensions escalated.
However, markets began to bounce back following Trump's roll back on duties.
In Europe, Germany's Dax and Paris' Cac 40 were up 1.5 per cent on Friday morning.
Over on Wall Street, the US markets had a bumpy journey to recovery, as Trump's unpredictable rhetoric continued to unsettle investors.
Stocks took a dive after GDP data showed US economic growth had declined by 0.3 per cent in the first three months of 2025.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump pointed the finger at former President Joe Biden for the current state of the stock market.
"This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," the President declared.
"Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers.
"Our country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden "Overhang". This will take a while."
The Dow Jones saw a slight increase of 0.2 per cent on Thursday, but has fallen over three per cent for the month. The S&P also experienced a one per cent drop for the month.
Since the start of the year, when Trump first hinted at tariff announcements, the tech-centric Nasdaq has plunged 2.5 per cent.
