London stocks opened higher on Monday with the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 both finding support from select sectors while geopolitical noise filtered through markets.
The FTSE 100 was up around 0.2%, the FTSE 250 gained about 0.4%, and the AIM All‑Share rose around 0.6% in early trade.
Miners were among the strongest performers as gold and silver rallied in response to fresh uncertainty after US forces reportedly detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him to New York over the weekend.
Precious metals miners led the FTSE 100 gains. Endeavour Mining climbed more than 4%, Anglo American rose around 3.5%, Antofagasta was up close to 3.4%, and Fresnillo added roughly 3% early on. These moves tracked higher bullion prices and a safe‑haven tilt in flows after the weekend’s headlines.
Defence stocks also featured prominently. BAE Systems jumped around 4.6%, Babcock International gained near 3.6%, Melrose Industries was up about 3.2%, and Rolls‑Royce added around 2.2%. The uptick reflects renewed focus on defence spending narratives in the wake of geopolitical shifts.
In the FTSE 250, specialist asset manager Ashmore Group stood out, climbing around 10% after reports highlighted its exposure to Venezuelan debt, which investors now believe could recover value if international engagement changes.
On the smaller cap front, Auction Technology Group climbed sharply after rejecting multiple takeover proposals, reinforcing confidence in its standalone value. On AIM, accesso Technology Group was weaker after news a large customer may not renew its contract, though another customer extended theirs for a year.
By contrast, some defensive and cyclical names lagged or eased back as miners and defence took the spotlight. Activity remains sector‑specific rather than broad‑based, with investors reacting to macro headlines and company news rather than broad market sentiment.
London’s benchmark now carries the weight of a strong start to 2026, following the FTSE 100’s breakthrough above 10,000 points, a symbolic level it hit early in the year after one of its best annual performances in recent memory.