The FTSE 100 Index Opens 0.22% Higher

The FTSE 100 moved higher on Friday, attempting to recover after four consecutive sessions of losses as financial markets showed signs of stabilising following a volatile week. Despite the rebound, the UK benchmark remained on course for a weekly decline of around 2%. In the FTSE 250, JD Wetherspoon shares climbed more than 6% following the pub operator’s latest update. Although full-year profit fell by more than analysts had expected, revenue came in slightly ahead of forecasts. IG Group, meanwhile, was the FTSE 100’s weakest performer, plunging more than 20% after warning that annual revenue growth would reach only the mid-single-digit range. The online trading company attributed weaker revenue to less favourable market conditions. The announcement also triggered selling across the sector, with CMC Markets and Plus500 both falling more than 7%.

The FTSE 100 Index is picking up 23 points or 0.22 percent on Friday. Gains are led by BT (2.62%), Antofagasta (2.11%) and Airtel Africa (1.94%). Biggest losers are St. Jamess (-0.77%), JD Sports Fashion (-0.69%) and Prudential (-0.66%).

The FTSE 100 fell more than 1.5% to 10,432 on Thursday, its lowest level since June 23, as UK equities followed a broader sell-off across European markets. The decline came as global bond yields climbed, with the 30-year gilt yield briefly moving above 6% for the first time since 1998. The rise reflected broader international pressure, particularly from higher yields in France and the US, rather than developments in UK domestic politics. Banks were among the biggest decliners, with HSBC down more than 4%, Lloyds falling 4.4%, NatWest 5.2%, Barclays 3.8% and Standard Chartered 3.2%. AstraZeneca and GSK dropped 1.8% and 1.6%, while Unilever and BAT lost 2.4% and 3.4%. Miners also weakened, led by Rio Tinto and Glencore. Energy stocks bucked the trend, with Shell and BP gaining as oil prices advanced. Meanwhile, Nationwide reported UK house prices fell 0.2% in September, slowing annual growth to 0.8%, the weakest pace this year.