Major index FTSE 100 poised for record-breaking consecutive gains sequence.
The FTSE 100 is closing in on an impressive milestone, aiming to break its longest winning streak record ever. If it manages to keep up its morning rally and close green on Friday, it'll surpass the 14-day winning streak it achieved back in 2017, marking its longest winning streak yet[1].
Friday morning started off strong for the index, with firms rallying due to the release of first-quarter results. The FTSE 100 was up nearly one percent, managing to keep relatively steady against pre-tariff trading levels[2].
Leading the charge was Natwest, which saw a nearly three percent increase, consolidating around one percent later in the day. The boost was thanks to the bank beating analyst profit expectations, pocketing £1.8bn. This value surge was due to increased mortgage lending as Brits rushed to beat the stamp duty deadline, and a surge in trading income from the first-quarter market volatility[2].
Meanwhile, Shell, the FTSE 100's third-biggest constituent, saw nearly a three percent increase. Shell's rise was due to launching its 14th consecutive quarterly buyback. Despite reporting a sharp drop in profit for the first three months of the year, mainly due to weakening oil prices amid geopolitical uncertainty[2], the buyback initiative helped bolster the company's standing.
Mining stocks also saw a significant boost, with Anglo American, Antofagasta, Glencore, and Rio Tinto all rising as metal prices soared on hopes of lower tariffs between China and the US[2].
As for the FTSE 250, it rose one percent in early trading, but later traded broadly flat. If it manages to notch a gain, it'll be extending its winning streak to eight days since 2020[2].
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, noted that the FTSE 100's winning streak was due in part to signs of a potential de-escalation in the tariff stand-off between the US and China. With strong gains in Asia and on Wall Street overnight, investors were feeling optimistic[2].
However, mixed earnings from Apple and Amazon may have dampened that optimism somewhat[2].
Global markets took a hit at the start of April when President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on the US' trading partners. The FTSE 100 plunged five percent on the day China announced reciprocal tariffs against the US. But after Trump's rollback on levies, markets began to recover[4].
In Europe, Germany's Dax and Cac 40 in Paris were up 1.5 percent on Friday morning[4]. On Wall Street, the US markets had a rocky road to recovery, with stocks slumping after GDP data revealed US economic growth fell 0.3 percent in the first three months of 2025[4].
Trump allegedly blamed former President Joe Biden for the market woes, stating in a post on Truth Social that "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's"[4]. He went on to predict that "Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers. Our country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden "Overhang". This will take a while."[4]
As of Thursday, the Dow Jones had gained 0.2 percent, but was down over three percent for the month[4]. The S&P was also down one percent for the month, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq had tumbled 2.5 percent since the beginning of the year[4].
Stock prices in the FTSE 100 continued to rise, with firms such as Natwest and Shell experiencing significant increases due to solid earnings and buyback programs, respectively. These gains were part of a larger trend in global markets, including Europe and the US, as investors reacted positively to signs of tariff de-escalation and strong corporate performance despite potential headwinds from mixed earnings reports. If the FTSE 100 maintains its winning streak and breaks its record for the longest winning streak ever, it would signal a positive outlook for the broader finance and business industries.
