The FTSE 100 traded higher on Friday, snapping a two-day losing streak as strength in energy, defence and mining stocks lifted the index back into positive territory. Gains were led by the mining sector after reports of talks between Glencore and Rio Tinto over a potential mega-deal sparked merger-and-acquisition optimism. Glencore shares jumped around 7.5%, hitting their highest level since July 2024, while other miners such as Antofagasta and Anglo American also advanced as deal speculation spread across the sector. In contrast, Rio Tinto shares fell about 3%. Oil majors Shell and BP rose more than 1.5% as crude prices climbed for a second straight session, while defence stocks, including Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, gained over 1% amid continued support for the sector. Meanwhile, healthcare stocks lagged, and retailers underperformed after Sainsbury’s shares fell more than 5% following a subdued festive trading update.
