The UK stock market has witnessed an impressive rally recently. On April 29th, the FTSE 100 index rose 0.6%, achieving a 12 - day winning streak, the longest in five years. Meanwhile, the mid - cap index has climbed for five consecutive days. The financial sector, which saw a 1.9% increase, was the main driver of this upward trend. HSBC Holdings, with a 2.6% gain, led the blue - chips. It benefited from its better - than - expected Q1 profits and a $3 - billion share - buyback plan.
