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#Markets #Pharma & Biotech
The Guardian
The Guardian
1w ago 19 views

UK’s FTSE 100 share index closes at record high as AstraZeneca becomes London’s biggest stock again – as it happened

The FTSE 100 index closed at a record high of 9446 points, driven by AstraZeneca's surge and relief over potential tariff impacts on the pharma sector.
UK’s FTSE 100 share index closes at record high as AstraZeneca becomes London’s biggest stock again – as it happened
A What happened
On October 1, 2025, the FTSE 100 index closed at a record high of 9446 points, reflecting a 15% increase for the year. AstraZeneca's stock surged by over 11%, making it the most valuable company in London, surpassing HSBC. The rally in pharmaceutical stocks was driven by relief over the potential easing of Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on branded drugs. GSK and Hikma also saw significant gains. Despite concerns over a US government shutdown and disappointing job data, UK markets remained buoyant. The UK housing market showed signs of recovery, with house prices rising 0.5% in September. Analysts noted that AstraZeneca's dual primary listing in the US and UK could enhance its market position and investment potential.