The FTSE 100 Index Closes 0.80% Higher

The FTSE 100 Index rose 57 points or 0.55 percent on Friday to close at 10366 points. Leading the gains are Burberry (5.21%), International Airlines Group (4.02%) and Fresnillo (3.04%). Top losers were Experian (-4.18%), Relx (-3.96%) and The Sage Group (-2.80%).

London’s FTSE 100 extended its rally on Friday, closing at 10,370 and securing a second straight weekly gain, driven by strength in banks and oil majors, supported by a broader upswing in commodities, including precious and base metals, alongside rising crude prices. Sentiment was further boosted by the Bank of England’s dovish decision to hold rates a day earlier. The vote proved far closer than expected, reinforcing expectations that policymakers may move more quickly toward rate cuts. Markets are now pricing in nearly a 70% chance of a cut as early as the March meeting. In contrast, data and software stocks lagged the broader market, weighed down by growing concerns that artificial intelligence could disrupt established business models. RELX fell 4.6%, while Experian slid 3.1%. Looking ahead to next week, investor attention will turn to a busy earnings calendar, with updates due from several heavyweight names including Barclays, NatWest, Unilever, BAT, and RELX.

London’s FTSE 100 edged up to around 10,330 points on Friday, reversing earlier losses and on track to record a second consecutive weekly gain, supported by signals from the Bank of England on Thursday that interest rates could be lowered if the recent decline in inflation proves sustained. Heavyweight bank stocks led the advance, with shares in Barclays, NatWest Group and Lloyds rising between 1.1% and 1.9%. Mining stocks also rebounded as precious metal prices climbed amid heightened US–Iran tensions, and following reports that merger talks between Rio Tinto and Glencore had collapsed. By contrast, data and software stocks underperformed amid growing concerns that AI could disrupt their business models. RELX slid more than 4% and Experian dropped 2.9%. Domestic political uncertainty added to caution after emails revealed the extent of UK ambassador Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, posing a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership.