1441 GMT - The U.K.'s blue-chip index moved beyond 10,600 points for the first time and is on track for its best start to a calendar year in 28 years. The index is up 1.3% in afternoon European trade, driven higher by gains for miners and banks. Climbing miners--led by Antofagasta, up 6.1%--continue a defining theme for the index this year, as soaring gold, silver and copper prices support major London-listed miners. Defense stocks also spur the index higher, with BAE Systems climbing 3.5% and extending its year-to-date gains to over 22%. If the FTSE closes Wednesday with gains of 7.42% for the year, it will have notched the best start to a year through Feb. 18 since 1998. The index is up 7.67% year-to-date in afternoon trade. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 18, 2026 09:41 ET (14:41 GMT)

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