FTSE 100 Falls as Oil Prices and Bond-Market Pressure Weigh
London’s FTSE 100 extended its recent decline on Thursday, falling to around 10,400 points, as rising oil prices and renewed pressure in global bond markets weighed on sentiment. Investors also digested Federal Reserve minutes indicating that most policymakers expected another interest-rate increase this year. Brent crude reached a two-week high amid concerns over escalating Middle East tensions and potential energy-supply disruptions, adding to inflation worries. Among individual stocks, Tesco surged more than 3% after first-half adjusted operating profit rose 6.3% to £1.78 billion, prompting the supermarket to raise its full-year guidance and increase its share buyback to £950 million. Imperial Brands gained 3% after announcing a £1.5 billion buyback, while Vodafone fell 1% after raising its annual VodafoneThree cost-saving target to £1 billion by 2032. UK housing sentiment also weakened, with the RICS house-price balance falling to -32% in September from -28% in August.
London’s FTSE 100 extended its recent decline on Thursday, falling to around 10,400 points, as rising oil prices and renewed pressure in global bond markets weighed on sentiment. Investors also digested Federal Reserve minutes indicating that most policymakers expected another interest-rate increase this year. Brent crude reached a two-week high amid concerns over escalating Middle East tensions and potential energy-supply disruptions, adding to inflation worries. 78 billion, prompting the supermarket to raise its full-year guidance and increase its share buyback to £950 million.
5 billion buyback, while Vodafone fell 1% after raising its annual VodafoneThree cost-saving target to £1 billion by 2032. UK housing sentiment also weakened, with the RICS house-price balance falling to -32% in September from -28% in August.