Britain’s blue-chip stock index has risen through the 9,000-point mark to reach a new high. “The UK stock market is the calming cup of tea and biscuit in an uncertain world,” Coatsworth said. The FTSE 100 index fell as low as 7,544 points in early April, when tariff announcements sent shares tumbling. The precious metals producer Fresnillo has been the top riser on the FTSE 100 so far this year, up by more than 140%. John Moore, a wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, said “strong earnings momentum in the banking and defence sectors” had helped to push the FTSE 100 to a record high.