After falling as much as 0.8 per cent, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 index closed up 0.5 per cent. ― Reuters picLONDON, Feb 25 ― Britain's main stock index recouped early losses to end yesterday higher, as gains in commodity-linked and banking stocks on investor optimism about a post-pandemic economic recovery outweighed losses in defensive sectors.
Mining stocks including Rio Tinto plc, Anglo American Plc and BHP added between 0.7 per cent and 1.5 per cent, boosted by higher metal prices. “If commodities continued to perform as strongly as they have over the past few months, well that's going to benefit disproportionately.”