FTSE 100 Falls for 6th Session

The FTSE 100 Index decreased 22 points or 0.21 percent on Monday to close at 10728 points. The decline was led by Howden Joinery (-3.63%), Diageo (-3.33%) and J Sainsbury (-3.11%). On the upside, the strongest performers were Endeavour (2.63%), Anglo American (2.03%) and GlaxoSmithKline (2.02%).

The FTSE 100 edged lower on Monday, extending its decline to a sixth consecutive session as weakness in consumer staples weighed on the index. Unilever fell nearly 2%, while British American Tobacco and Diageo dropped 1.6% and 2.8%, respectively. Tesco also lost almost 3%. In contrast, mining stocks benefited from stronger metals prices. Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining gained around 2% and 2.6%, supported by higher gold prices, while Antofagasta, Anglo American and Glencore also advanced as copper prices continued to rise. Pharmaceuticals provided some support, with AstraZeneca gaining about 1% and GSK rising more than 2%. Meanwhile, renewed violence in the Middle East raised concerns about further escalation. Hopes for a diplomatic resolution weakened after President Donald Trump reportedly indicated he was in no rush to end the conflict with Iran, while fighting intensified again in Lebanon.

The FTSE 100 started the week higher, attempting to recover from five consecutive sessions of losses, with mining stocks providing the main support. Rising copper prices lifted shares in Antofagasta and Anglo American by 2.4% and 2.2%, respectively, while Glencore also gained around 2.4%. Higher gold prices supported precious-metals miners, with Fresnillo advancing about 2% and Endeavour Mining adding 1.6%. AstraZeneca also rose more than 1% after providing updates on several drug trials, although the pharmaceutical company said it would discontinue a Phase 3 trial for a lung-cancer treatment. Broader sentiment remained cautious as investors continued to monitor developments around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider US-Iran conflict. Iran called on the US to accept defeat over the weekend, while President Donald Trump described Tehran as “very evil” and warned Americans to prepare for continued high fuel prices.