The FTSE 100 Index Closes 0.04% Lower

The FTSE 100 Index decreased 72 points or 0.69 percent on Thursday to close at 10433 points. The decline was led by Auto Trader (-4.43%), BT (-4.10%) and National Grid (-3.43%). On the upside, the strongest performers were Babcock International (4.13%), BAE Systems (3.13%) and Compass (1.81%).

The FTSE 100 fell 0.7% on Thursday, ending an eight-session winning streak as broad declines across banks, healthcare and utility stocks outweighed gains in energy and defence shares. Sentiment shifted throughout the session after renewed US airstrikes on Iran pushed oil prices higher, before an Axios report later suggested the US and Iran were close to extending their ceasefire pending approval from President Donald Trump. HSBC fell around 1.7%, while Lloyds and Barclays lost 0.7% to 0.8%. AstraZeneca dropped 1.8% and GSK fell 1.2%, while Unilever and BAT each declined about 1.4%. Utilities were among the weakest performers, with National Grid and Severn Trent down more than 3%, while Centrica and SSE also fell after SSE warned it is unlikely to meet its 2030 renewable energy target. In contrast, Shell and BP posted modest gains, while defence stocks rallied with Rolls Royce (+1.5%), BAE Systems (>3%) and Babcock (~5%) all moving higher.

The FTSE 100 Index is dropping 104 points. Leading the losses are Fresnillo (-3.95%), Endeavour (-3.81%) and Entain (-2.99%). Top gainers were Melrose (1.00%), BAE Systems (0.97%) and Aviva (0.61%).