UK Stocks Start Week Higher; Geopolitical Risks Persist

11:52 AM EDT, 10/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- British equities started the week on a positive note, with the FTSE 100 rising 0.87% on Monday, as Brent crude oil climbed above $105 a barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and continued Russia-Ukraine hostilities. Yemen-based Houthis attacked the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, twice over the weekend after repeated strikes last week. Saudi Arabia retaliated with air strikes in Yemen, while US President Donald Trump said the US could also attack the Houthis following the death of an American at the Riyadh airport. Iran denied directing the Houthis and its foreign minister sought a diplomatic channel with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine agreed to an immediate ceasefire covering energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow subsequently attacked a thermal power plant in Kharkiv and other Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Rising oil and gas prices are also likely to weigh on the UK economy, Barclays said ahead of the Autumn Budget on Oct. 28. "These increases will make the UK poorer by raising the cost of imported energy, squeezing household spending power and increasing costs for businesses and the public sector." In corporate news, Hays (HAS.L) dropped 11.91% at close. The recruitment and human resources company reported that group net fees in the fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30 decreased 5% year over year. TotalEnergies (TTE.L) and investment company KKR agreed to add a 700-megawatt portfolio of three utility-scale solar assets in Texas and Ohio to their equally owned joint venture based in the US. The deal values the portfolio at an enterprise value of $1.2 billion and is expected to be closed in 2026, subject to customary conditions. Shares of the energy company's stock added 1.86% in the closing trade. Looking ahead, investors will examine the September retail sales report on Tuesday and August gross domestic product and industrial production numbers on Thursday.