FTSE 100 Falls on Thursday

The FTSE 100 fell more than 0.5% on Thursday amid a broad equity selloff, with disappointing corporate updates from Barclays and J Sainsbury adding pressure. Barclays shares dropped over 2% after third-quarter investment banking revenue came in below expectations at £3.13 billion, despite strength in equities, prompting the bank to announce a £500 million share buyback. Analysts flagged weakness in fixed-income revenue as a concern. Sainsbury’s declined more than 3% despite reporting first-half adjusted profit of £260 million, above estimates, as investors assessed its revised outlook following the agreed sale of Argos to Swift Partners. Mining stocks also slumped as gold, silver and copper prices fell sharply, with Fresnillo down nearly 4%, Anglo American losing more than 3.5%, and Endeavour and Antofagasta falling close to 3%. Oil prices moved higher as renewed Middle East hostilities and deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia heightened concerns over regional energy supplies.