The FTSE 100 index soared to a record high on Monday morning, driven by a surge in defence stocks as European nations indicated their readiness to increase defence spending over the weekend.
The º£½ÇÊÓƵ's premier index climbed 0.4 per cent or 32 points after the market opened, as reported by .
BAE Systems was the leading performer, with its stock leaping 17 per cent. Rolls-Royce also contributed to the FTSE 100's ascent, with the Derby-based giant rising nearly six per cent on Monday.
The company, one of the FTSE's top performers, has surged over 30 per cent in the last five days following the announcement of a £1bn buyback in its annual results. So far this year, the FTSE 100 has gained nearly eight per cent.
The FTSE 250 also saw a slight increase on Monday morning, jumping 0.2 per cent. Defence companies Babcock, Qinetiq and Chemring led the index higher.
Other major European indexes also rose on Monday. Germany's Dax index rose 0.34 per cent or 76.55 points.
It was joined by France's CAC 40 and Belgium's BEL 20, both of which edged higher due to strength in defence stocks despite looming threats of tariffs from President Trump.
The CAC 40 increased by 0.06 per cent with a 7 point rise, while the BEL 20 grew 0.31 per cent, up 13.52 points.
Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, commented: "With neither particular exposure to the mega cap tech risks nor indeed, at least for the moment, to tariff threats, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ has ploughed ahead, with the premier index increasingly garnering investor attention given its perceived defensive qualities."
He added, "Having finished February at a record closing high, March has also started on a sprightly footing, with the FTSE 100 making further progress in early trade."
Market analyst Neil Wilson from Tip Ranks remarked: "London's FTSE 100 closed at a record on Friday and extended higher early in trading on Monday, now up 7 per cent year to date."
Further delving into European stock movements, he noted, "The DAX also rallied as Rheinmetall surged another 15 per cent this morning."
He concluded with a reference to current geopolitics by saying, "There is suddenly a lot of extra cash for defence."
