UK Stocks Close on Lower Note

2026-03-02 17:05 By Luisa Carvalho 1 min. read

The FTSE 100 closed about 1.2% lower at 10,780 on Monday, joining a global selloff triggered by the Middle East conflict following US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Heightened geopolitical risks and increased uncertainty led investors to sell cyclical stocks while flocking to oil producers and defense firms.

Travel shares suffered the most, with airspace closures in the Middle East, halted flights, and rising oil prices weighing on airlines, tour operators, hotels, and cruise lines.

British Airways operator IAG fell 5.5% after canceling flights and the cruise operator Carnival tumbled 8.1%.

Financials also suffered losses, with Standard Chartered slipping 5.3%, Barclays 3.4%, and Lloyds Banking Group 2.6%.

JD Sports Fashion and Burberry Group dropped 5% and 4.7%, respectively.

On the flip side, defense shares outperformed, with BAE Systems jumping 6.1%.

Energy stocks also rose sharply, buoyed by a sharp surge in oil and gas prices.

BP gained 2.1% and Shell rose 1.9%.



News Stream
The FTSE 100 Index Closes 1.26% Lower
The FTSE 100 Index decreased -138 points or 1.26 percent on Monday to close at 10773 points. The decline was led by WPP (-7.20%), Standard Chartered (-5.50%) and JD Sports Fashion (-5.29%).
2026-03-02
UK Stocks Close on Lower Note
The FTSE 100 closed about 1.2% lower at 10,780 on Monday, joining a global selloff triggered by the Middle East conflict following US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend. Heightened geopolitical risks and increased uncertainty led investors to sell cyclical stocks while flocking to oil producers and defense firms. Travel shares suffered the most, with airspace closures in the Middle East, halted flights, and rising oil prices weighing on airlines, tour operators, hotels, and cruise lines. British Airways operator IAG fell 5.5% after canceling flights and the cruise operator Carnival tumbled 8.1%. Financials also suffered losses, with Standard Chartered slipping 5.3%, Barclays 3.4%, and Lloyds Banking Group 2.6%. JD Sports Fashion and Burberry Group dropped 5% and 4.7%, respectively. On the flip side, defense shares outperformed, with BAE Systems jumping 6.1%. Energy stocks also rose sharply, buoyed by a sharp surge in oil and gas prices. BP gained 2.1% and Shell rose 1.9%.
2026-03-02
FTSE 100 Falls Nearly 1%
The FTSE 100 fell 1% to around the 10,800 level on Monday, weighed down by a broad market sell-off and rising safe-haven demand as geopolitical tensions intensified. The decline followed a series of attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, which triggered retaliatory strikes by Tehran against regional targets, further heightening uncertainty. Financial stocks were among the worst performers, with HSBC Holdings dropping 4.5%, Barclays sliding 5.7%, and Lloyds Banking Group losing 3%. Airlines also came under heavy pressure amid flight disruptions and cancellations, as International Airlines Group (IAG) tumbled 6.6% and easyJet fell 3.9%. In contrast, energy stocks outperformed, buoyed by a sharp surge in oil and gas prices. Shell climbed 6.1%, while BP gained nearly 3%. Defense shares also advanced, with BAE Systems jumping 6.1%.
2026-03-02