The FTSE 100 index rebounded on Wednesday, driven by solid company earnings and a broad rally in commodity stocks. By the market close, London’s premier equity gauge rose 21.68 points, or 0.2 percent, to 10,879.38. This marked its fourth highest closing level on record, trailing just 0.3 percent behind the all-time high registered on February 27 at 10,910.55.

Mining companies led the gains as copper prices climbed to two-month peaks. Chilean miner Antofagasta surged 252 pence, or 6.9 percent, to £39.31. Anglo American also advanced 202 pence, or 5.5 percent, ending the day at £39.07. Meanwhile, safety products manufacturer Halma rose 194 pence, or 5.5 percent, to £37.42 following the completion of a $60 million sale of its US orthobiologics business, NovaBone Products, and related subsidiaries to Isto Biologics. The deal was completed on a cash- and debt-free basis.

Technology stocks also registered gains, buoyed by a recovery in several artificial intelligence-related shares primarily in the US and South Korea. These stocks had faced recent pressure amid concerns over the significant capital being poured into AI ventures without clear returns. On the FTSE 100, the Polar Capital Technology Trust, which holds stakes in chipmakers such as Taiwan Semiconductor and Micron Technology, rose 34.5 pence, or 5.4 percent, to 669 pence. Scottish Mortgage, a trust with large holdings in companies including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Nvidia, gained 37.5 pence, or 2.8 percent, to £13.83.

The FTSE 250 index also advanced, climbing 234.53 points, or 1 percent, to 24,459.30. The top performer on the more domestically focused index was building materials supplier Travis Perkins, which rose 105.5 pence, or 18.4 percent, to 678.5 pence after reporting solid half-year results. By contrast, housebuilder Vistry Group extended its recent losses, falling 31 pence, or 9.8 percent, to 284 pence. The company is still dealing with the fallout from a profit warning issued last month, which forecast significantly lower half-year earnings compared with the prior year. Investors remain wary of Vistry’s aggressive discounting strategy for home sales, which has weighed on profitability. The decline was further exacerbated by increased short-selling activity betting on a continued share price drop.