The FTSE 100 rose 1.18% to 10,764.49 points by 1121 GMT on Wednesday, putting the index on course for its strongest one-day percentage gain in about six weeks. The FTSE 250 gained 0.83% to a two-month high. Banks led the advance, rising 4.3% as markets largely priced a 25-basis-point Bank of England rate increase the following day, which analysts said could support lenders’ net interest income. HSBC, Standard Chartered, NatWest Group, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays gained between 3.6% and 4.8%. A weaker dollar after the Democrats’ sweep of the US midterm elections, amid concerns about tighter artificial-intelligence regulation and its potential economic impact, helped gold prices rise 3% and lifted precious-metal miners by nearly 6.2%. Lion Finance Group advanced 7.5% after announcing a 62 million Georgian lari ($24.2 million) share buyback, while Weir fell 7.7% after citing shorter-term headwinds from the Middle East conflict and disruptions at Chilean mines despite maintaining its annual outlook. Metro Bank rose 13.9% after reaffirming targets for return on tangible equity above 13% in 2026, above 15% in 2027 and above 18% in 2028. Earlier market coverage had highlighted support from AMD’s results, declines in Smith & Nephew after reduced guidance, and a gain for JD Wetherspoon after stronger like-for-like sales; Marks & Spencer fell despite reporting first-half adjusted profit before tax of £403.2 million, above consensus.