FTSE 100 Attempts Rebound, Set for Worst Week since April 2025

2026-03-06 09:02 By Agna Gabriel 1 min. read

The FTSE 100 rose more than 0.5% on Friday, attempting to recover from a sharp 1.5% drop in the previous session during a volatile week dominated by the Middle East crisis.

Energy companies benefited from surging crude prices, with Shell up 0.6% and BP gaining around 1.2% as oil headed for its biggest weekly rise since 2022.

Defence-related stocks also attracted demand, with Rolls-Royce Holdings rising nearly 2% and BAE Systems adding more than 1%.

Banking stocks also helped lift the index, with HSBC Holdings gaining about 0.5%, while Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group each climbed close to 0.9%.

Despite Friday’s rebound, the index remained on track for a steep weekly decline of over 4%, marking its worst performance since the market turmoil caused by global tariff tensions last April.

The drop ends a streak of five consecutive weekly gains during which the FTSE 100 repeatedly set record highs before geopolitical tensions reversed investor sentiment.



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