London shares experienced a modest uptick in subdued trading on Tuesday, the second-to-last session of 2025, as mining stocks made gains amid a stabilization in metal prices following a significant decline the previous day.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index added 0.4% by 1040, positioning itself less than 0.2% from its all-time high in November, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index recorded a modest 0.2% gain.

Shares of Fresnillo climbed 4.6%, while Glencore, Anglo American, and Rio Tinto added between 0.6% and 2.8% as gold, silver, and copper recovered from Monday’s lows. Stocks of precious metal miners increased by 3%, while those of industrial metal miners rose by 1.9%, leading the gains among various sectors. Shares of heavyweights HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, and Standard Chartered increased between 0.8% and 1.1%, contributing to the FTSE 100’s advance on Tuesday.

Trading volumes at the London stock market have remained below their 20-day moving average since last week, according to data, as numerous investors were absent during the holiday-shortened Christmas and New Year period. Domestic markets are set to close early on Wednesday in observance of New Year’s Eve, with a majority of global markets remaining closed on Thursday, January 1. The FTSE index has risen 21% in 2025, positioning itself for its fifth consecutive year of positive performance and marking its most robust annual results in 16 years, bolstered by supportive monetary policy and advances in major financial and mining equities.

In early December, the Bank of England reduced interest rates by 25 basis points in a closely contested vote, marking the fourth reduction this year. However, it indicated that the already measured approach to decreasing borrowing costs may decelerate further.