- Gold and silver producer takes the top spot among blue-chip firms
A mining giant headquartered in Mexico City has been the FTSE 100’s biggest riser over the past six months.
Fresnillo shares have jumped 77 per cent amid a surge in gold prices, as President Trump’s tariffs have led to considerable turmoil in global stock markets and driven investors to safe-haven assets.
Gold prices smashed a record $3,500 per ounce on 22 April, a few weeks after Trump announced a 10 per cent baseline tax on all US goods imports, as well as ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of 25 per cent on dozens of countries.
Prices have also been driven up by inflows into gold-backed exchange-traded funds and high demand from central banks since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Silver prices have similarly been lifted by geopolitical turmoil, although not to the same extent as gold.
The element increased in value by approximately 21 per cent last year, from $23.65 to $28.90 per ounce, thanks to strong industrial demand for use in green technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicles.
Top performer: Fresnillo shares have jumped 77 per cent amid a surge in gold prices
Rising prices and moderately higher production output combined to help Fresnillo’s turnover jump by 29.3 per cent to $3.5billion in 2024, and its pre-tax profits skyrocket more than sixfold to $743.9million.
Another firm that has enjoyed a fruitful last six months is the little-known telecoms provider Airtel Africa, whose shares have soared by around 70 per cent.
This is despite the group recently reporting that its revenues flatlined at just under $5billion in the year ending March. Its operating profits also declined by 11.1 per cent to less than $1.5billion.
Some distance behind, at 57 per cent, is Rolls-Royce Holdings, which has enjoyed an exceptional turnaround under chief executive ‘Turbo’ Tufan Erginbilgic.
Top ten: Another firm that has enjoyed a fruitful last six months is the little-known telecoms provider Airtel Africa, whose shares have soared by around 70 per cent
Having severely struggled during the pandemic when airline travel virtually ground to a halt, the engine manufacturer slashed costs by cutting jobs and improving its supply chain.
The measures coincided with a rebound in foreign travel boosting the amount of time its engines were in use and governments ramping up defence spending in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Consequently, the company’s market value has jumped about ninefold since the start of 2023, from £7.9billion to £71.5billion, and is on track to reach its 2027 profit targets two years ahead of schedule.
BAE Systems has likewise benefited from growing military expenditure; shares in Europe’s largest defence contractor have climbed by 47 per cent.
Among the Footsie’s other top ten performers over the last six months are Lloyds Banking Group (up 48 per cent) and NatWest Group (up 34 per cent).
The latter exceeded first-quarter earnings forecasts, achieving an operating pre-tax profit of £1.81billion, compared to analyst estimates of £1.56billion.
Ahead of NatWest are Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (up 40 per cent), whose shares traded at a record high on Tuesday, and motor insurer Admiral Group (up 36 per cent).
Behind the firm in ninth and tenth place are Next (up 32 per cent), which has just become the fourth British retailer to score at least £1billion in annual pre-tax profits, and British Airways owner International Airlines Group (up 31 per cent).
The FTSE 100 was up 0.8 per cent today to hit 8,785 – back to levels seen at the start of March.
It is up 14.3 per cent since 9 April, when Trump’s tariff shock sent global markets into freefall.
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