United Kingdom: FTSE 100 Rises to 5-Month High.

The FTSE 100 advanced 0.9% on Monday, rising above 10,800 to its highest level since the record close on February 27, supported by strong performances from consumer goods and healthcare stocks. Unilever shares surged more than 8% after the company reported better-than-expected results, driven by solid growth in the US and emerging markets, and raised its 2026 outlook. GSK also gained around 4% after delivering an earnings beat, announcing cost-cutting measures and plans to reinvest savings into drug research, while maintaining that operating profit growth should reach the upper end of its guidance. In contrast, Barclays shares dropped nearly 6% despite reporting strong second-quarter investment banking results, upgrading its annual income target, and announcing a GBP 1 billion share buyback. Investors compared the performance unfavourably with stronger results from US banks. Meanwhile, oil majors Shell and BP declined more than 1% each as crude prices continued to weaken.