FTSE 100 movers: Precious metals miners and defence firms rally
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Monday 01 Sep 2025
(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was flat at 9,187.28 in afternoon trade on Monday.
Precious metals miner Fresnillo and gold miner Endeavour both shone as gold prices neared a record high, while silver hit a 14-year high.
Scope Markets analyst Joshua Mahony said: "Gold and silver have enjoyed a stellar start to the week, with silver in particular surging into a 14-year high in early trade. In an environment of concerns around the ever-increasing debt burden and ongoing trade uncertainty, traders have understandably looked further afield in a bid to seek assets that benefit from concerns around fiat devaluation and potential stock-market volatility.
"Notably, with the wider growth outlook improving, silver has started to come into its own given the benefit of also reflecting improved industrial demand.
"With markets forecasting weaker jobs data across the course of the week, additional concerns over the direction of the US economy could yet provide the kind of boost that may drive gold into fresh record highs above $3500."
Defence firms Rolls-Royce, Babcock and BAE Systems all gained after the UK secured a £10bn deal to supply Norway with at least five new warships.
The deal supports 2,000 jobs at BAE Systems' shipyards in Glasgow and a further 2,000 roles across the UK maritime supply chain until the late 2030s, the government said.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,823.00p 3.99%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,095.50p 3.50%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,044.00p 3.37%
Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,477.00p 2.72%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 238.60p 2.23%
Prudential (PRU) 987.00p 2.13%
Tesco (TSCO) 430.90p 1.99%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 302.00p 1.82%
BAE Systems (BA.) 1,792.50p 1.44%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 591.80p 1.06%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 516.00p -3.84%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 96.82p -3.28%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 79.84p -2.99%
3i Group (III) 3,929.00p -2.72%
Legal & General Group (LGEN) 245.70p -2.58%
SSE (SSE) 1,711.00p -2.48%
Schroders (SDR) 375.60p -2.44%
Kingfisher (KGF) 257.30p -2.28%
Entain (ENT) 872.80p -2.24%
St James's Place (STJ) 1,264.00p -2.21%
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN