The FTSE 100 Index Closes 0.13% Higher

The FTSE 100 Index went up by 14 points or 0.13 percent on Thursday to close at 10346 points. The rise was led by B&M European Value (6.19%), Relx (5.77%) and London Stock Exchange (5.38%). On the downside, the weakerst performers were Prudential (-7.34%), Standard Chartered (-3.18%) and Rio Tinto (-2.76%).

London’s FTSE 100 erased early losses to close marginally higher at 10,347 on Thursday, in line with gains across European markets as investors welcomed signs of easing tensions in the Middle East. However, the UK benchmark underperformed regional peers as declines in oil majors and Asia-focused banks limited gains. Sentiment improved after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire, raising hopes for broader de-escalation in the region. Meanwhile, the Republican-led US House voted to end military operations against Iran, a rare rebuke of President Trump’s administration. Lower crude prices weighed on energy stocks, with Shell down 1.5% and BP falling 0.3%, while investors also pared back expectations for further Bank of England rate hikes. Among the biggest laggards, Prudential (-7.6%), Standard Chartered (-3.1%), and HSBC (-2.0%) declined after reports that some banks had suspended the opening of Hong Kong accounts for mainland Chinese clients, a key channel for overseas investments.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.5% to 10,280 points on Thursday, touching its lowest level since mid-May, weighed down by its Asia-focused financial stocks. HSBC, Prudential, and Standard Chartered all fell sharply, with Prudential dropping 7%, after a local report suggested some banks had suspended opening Hong Kong accounts for mainland Chinese clients, which could be used for overseas investments. Traders also weighed mixed Middle East developments. The US announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, while tensions persisted following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning of potential further strikes. Iran also claimed it targeted a US command ship in the Gulf of Oman, while the Republican-led House voted to halt US military action against Iran, a symbolic rebuke to President Trump’s administration. On the economic front, UK new car sales rose 7.1% year-over-year in May to 160,662 units, marking the best performance for the month since 2019.