FTSE 100 Soars to Record on Oil & Trade Optimism; FTSE 250 Joins Rally
The FTSE 100 closed at a record 9,645.62 on Friday, October 24, 2025, and hovered near 9,570 by midday Monday. The FTSE 250 reached 22,529.02, its highest since early 2022, before holding around 22,240. Oil majors BP and Shell rose after U.S. sanctions on Russian oil firms, while NatWest shares jumped 5% on strong earnings. UK retail sales and consumer confidence improved, fueling rate cut hopes.
