FTSE 100 Extends Losses for 2nd Session
The FTSE 100 traded slightly lower on Tuesday after falling 1.1% in the previous session. Banking stocks remained under pressure, with HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Standard Chartered down between 0.9% and 1.4%. Aerospace and defence shares also weakened, as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems each lost more than 1%. Distribution company Bunzl was among the worst performers, falling over 3%, while Rio Tinto declined more than 1%. In contrast, Anglo American gained around 2% after raising its annual diamond production forecast as it pursues a sale of its De Beers unit. Official figures showed UK payroll employment increased by 13,000 in September, beating expectations of an 8,000 decline, while August’s reading was revised from a 26,000 drop to a 1,000 increase. The unemployment rate also eased to 4.7% in the three months to August, its lowest since July 2025, suggesting the labour market remains resilient ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s budget next week.
The FTSE 100 traded slightly lower on Tuesday after falling 1.1% in the previous session. Banking stocks remained under pressure, with HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Standard Chartered down between 0.9% and 1.4%. Aerospace and defence shares also weakened, as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems each lost more than 1%. Distribution company Bunzl was among the worst performers, falling over 3%, while Rio Tinto declined more than 1%.
In contrast, Anglo American gained around 2% after raising its annual diamond production forecast as it pursues a sale of its De Beers unit. Official figures showed UK payroll employment increased by 13,000 in September, beating expectations of an 8,000 decline, while August’s reading was revised from a 26,000 drop to a 1,000 increase. The unemployment rate also eased to 4.7% in the three months to August, its lowest since July 2025, suggesting the labour market remains resilient ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s budget next week.