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FTSE 100 Gains as Energy Stocks Rise and Aviva Draws Investors

📅 Published: 12 Nov 2026, 11:31 am IST• 🔄 Updated: 12 Nov 2026, 11:31 am IST• 4 min read• 4 views
The Aviva logo displayed on a corporate building in London, representing the insurance and financial services company.
Aviva remains a top choice for investors on the AJ Bell platform.
Key Points
  • The FTSE 100 rose 0.8% on November 11, 2026, buoyed by rebounding oil prices.
  • Spirax and Computacenter led gains on the index during the Wednesday session.
  • Defence shares on the FTSE 100 experienced a slump in market value.
  • Aviva was the most popular stock on the AJ Bell platform, accounting for 3.2% of purchases.
  • Aviva reported a 24% increase in operating profit to £1.3bn for the first half of 2026.

The FTSE 100 index rose 0.8% on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, as energy and mining shares moved higher on increased oil and copper prices. Rebounding oil prices supported market gains, with Spirax leading the list of gainers for the day.

Computacenter also helped lift the index, while optimism grew regarding the tech sector following input from Anthropic. FTSE 100 futures remained firm as the market indicated hope for resilient UK consumers.

This performance matters as it occurred ahead of upcoming UK gross domestic product data.

Defence sector shares slump on the FTSE 100

Defence sector shares on the FTSE 100 slumped on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Yahoo Finance UK identified an alternative top pick for investors that is not BAE Systems.

Aviva emerges as the most popular stock on AJ Bell

Aviva was the most popular stock on the AJ Bell investment platform as of November 10, 2026, accounting for 3.2% of all purchases. SpaceX and Rolls-Royce followed as the next most popular stocks, representing 2.6% and 2.2% of purchases respectively.

M&G, Standard Life, and Lloyds also appeared among the top 10 stocks on the AJ Bell platform.

Aviva reports 24% increase in operating profit

Aviva reported a 24% increase in operating profit to £1.3 billion for the first half of fiscal year 2026.

Aviva shares rose from approximately 687p on October 12 to 732p on November 10, 2026.

Analysts weigh in on Aviva share price targets

Analysts set an average price target of 748p for Aviva, suggesting a 2.2% upside.

The company maintains an expected annual dividend of 42p per share. Based on this dividend, the implied fair value of the shares is 764p, suggesting a 4% upside.

Market volatility observed on November 9 and 10

The FTSE 100 climbed more than 1% on Monday, November 9, 2026, as miners received a boost from firmer gold prices. Yahoo Finance reported that mining stocks led the jump while oil prices fell due to hopes regarding Iran. City AM noted that oil prices dropped after Donald Trump stated that new strikes against Iran were "highly unlikely".

Yahoo Finance also reported that FTSE 100 futures slipped on November 9, 2026, due to data monitoring and weakness in the housing market. On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the index slipped as mining stocks dragged it lower. IG reported that the index was aiming for a record high on November 10, 2026, as the gold price stalled and the GBP/USD exchange rate rallied.

Historical performance and market crash strategies

On November 5, 2026, FTSE 100 futures held steady while traders awaited a Bank of England interest rate hike. The Twelfth Magpie suggested on November 11, 2026, that a specific FTSE 100 share remains a potential smart buy during a stock market crash, citing its historical performance.

Twelfth Magpie regulatory and company structure

Twelfth Magpie Ltd is an independent, UK-owned company led by Mark Rogers, Chris Nials, and Heather Adlington. Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd holds authorization and regulation from the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 422737.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drove the FTSE 100 gains on November 11, 2026?
The index rose by 0.8% due to increases in energy and mining stocks, supported by a rebound in oil and copper prices.
How did Aviva perform in the first half of 2026?
Aviva reported a 24% increase in operating profit to £1.3bn and a 47% rise in cash remittances to £1.5bn.
What is the analyst outlook for Aviva stock?
The average analyst price target is 748p, with a recent UBS rating change to Hold and a price target of 800p.
Which stocks were most popular on the AJ Bell platform as of November 10, 2026?
Aviva was the most popular, followed by SpaceX and Rolls-Royce.
How this story was made: written with AI assistance from the published reports and data linked below, then checked by automated filters that compare its facts against those sources. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it. Our editorial policy.

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FTSE 100AvivaStock MarketEnergy StocksMiningUK EconomyFinance
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