FTSE 100 Soars as Traders Shrug Off Trump’s Trade Threats

Investor optimism has driven the FTSE 100 to unprecedented levels, with the index closing at 8,975 points—its highest ever. Despite Trump’s latest tariff announcements, markets remained buoyant, betting on another reversal from the former president.
Mining and defense stocks were among the strongest performers. With rising gold and copper prices, companies like Glencore, Rio Tinto, and Anglo American saw their shares rise sharply. Defense stocks also surged amid expectations of growing military budgets linked to ongoing global conflicts.
The FTSE’s strong performance signals renewed confidence in multinational firms and the global economy, despite geopolitical uncertainty. Many investors believe Trump’s tariff moves are political theatre, unlikely to materialize in full.
Financial analysts suggest the so-called Taco trade—the idea that Trump will chicken out—is encouraging traders to stay in riskier assets rather than retreating.