Unilever and Man Group Lead London Market Gains

Unilever spearheaded the rally, jumping 6.8% to reach its strongest single-day performance in two years. The consumer goods company raised its annual forecast after reporting its highest quarterly volume growth in over a decade, proving that brands like Dove and Vaseline remain resilient despite tightening household budgets. Man Group also saw significant momentum, with shares climbing 4.6% to their highest level since 2010 following an 11% increase in assets under management.

Conversely, the financial and energy sectors dampened the overall market mood. Barclays slipped 5.1% despite a 17% profit increase, signaling that investors had already priced in the bank's strong performance. Energy stocks struggled similarly, dropping 0.6% as oil prices fell more than 2% amid cooling tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Meanwhile, thread manufacturer Coats surged 7.1% to lead the FTSE 250, and Canal+ rose 6.2% as growth in its legacy divisions stabilized revenue. Market participants are now shifting focus toward upcoming policy announcements from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.