FTSE 100 Live: London stocks rocket to 3-month high after US jobs miss

The FTSE 100 rose to a three-month high as London stocks rallied after the US jobs report missed expectations, with the index up 175 points at 10,654. The move was stronger in the large-cap FTSE 100, up more than 1.5%, versus a 0.4% gain for the FTSE 250. Defence and defensives powered the session: BAE Systems and Babcock climbed more than 6%, while aerospace names Melrose and Rolls-Royce also advanced. Defensive heavyweights including AstraZeneca, GSK, Tesco and Haleon gained, alongside a rebound in miners led by Antofagasta, plus gains for banks and utilities. Market commentary linked the rally to a weaker dollar and softer oil prices, which eased concerns about the interest-rate outlook as short-term US Treasury yields fell. US markets were also lifted, with Dow futures up 0.4% and indications of around a 0.3% rise in S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures. Analyst Fazad Razakzada said the data reduced odds of a July Fed hike, though not necessarily later.