The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.53% Lower

The FTSE 100 fell around 0.5% on Thursday, extending its decline into a second session as weakness in commodity stocks weighed on the index. Shell and BP dropped 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively, as oil prices fell for a fourth consecutive session. Also, Glencore and Rio Tinto both declined more than 1%, pressured by lower copper prices, with Glencore also trading ex-dividend. Elsewhere, Prudential fell nearly 2% despite reporting stronger new business profit for the first half, supported by solid performances in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Investor sentiment globally received a boost from Nvidia, whose latest results included an upbeat outlook for artificial intelligence demand and expectations of continued strong sales growth through 2028, reinforcing optimism around the broader AI investment cycle.

The FTSE 100 Index is losing 57 points. Losses were led by Haleon (-1.73%), Melrose (-1.41%) and Shell (-1.31%). Offsetting the fall, top gainers were Scottish Mortgage (0.89%), Halma (0.83%) and Spirax-Sarco Engineering (0.76%).

The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.6 points or 0.01 percent on Wednesday to close at 10887 points. Leading the gains are British American Tobacco (2.84%), Howden Joinery (2.19%) and Diploma (1.73%). Top losers were The Sage Group (-3.85%), Entain (-1.96%) and 3i (-1.96%).