(Reuters) – The main UK stock indexes joined a rally in global stocks on Wednesday after Republican Donald Trump was elected U.S. president, ending weeks-long uncertainty for markets.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 climbed 1.3%, on track for its biggest percentage one-day gain in three months, while the FTSE 250 midcap index jumped 1.4%, set for its best day in over six weeks.
Trump was elected president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.
U.S. markets surged on expectations of looser regulations and lower corporate taxes in the United States, but expectations of higher tariffs under a Trump presidency dented the euro.
“The impact of higher inflation on corporate profit margins, and how interest rates might not come down as fast as previously expected, are real risks for investors to consider once the dust settles,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Among single stocks, Ashtead jumped 6.3% on expectations that a Trump victory would benefit the second-biggest equipment rental firm in the United States.
Ferrexpo Plc, a Ukraine focused-company which operates three iron ore mines and an iron ore pellet production facility there, surged 23% on hopes that Trump could help stop the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Marks & Spencer shares climbed 6.3% as the retailer forecast “further progress” in the rest of its financial year after reporting a better-than-expected 17.2% rise in first-half profit.
Persimmon fell 6.1% after the homebuilder said sales rates since the start of the third quarter were well ahead of last year, but flagged concerns about higher costs in 2025.
(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
