UK Economy Grows 0.5% as Trump Signals Iran War End
British stocks rose following stronger-than-expected GDP growth while President Donald Trump stated the war on Iran would end very soon.
The FTSE 100 gained 0.70% on Wednesday after the Office for National Statistics reported the United Kingdom economy grew by 0.5% in the second quarter. This figure exceeded the 0.4% forecast, with a 2.8% increase in export volumes offsetting a 0.1% decline in production. Mining firms Rio Tinto and Antofagasta led the market gains.
In geopolitical developments, Donald Trump stated that the war on Iran would end "very soon" and reiterated that Tehran would not obtain a nuclear weapon. He denied reports that the United States would ease sanctions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by accusing Washington and Israel of attempting to sow internal divisions within Iran.
Separately, UK counterterrorism police reported that no explosives were found in vans near RAF Fairford following the arrest of five individuals suspected of involvement in a plot.
