FTSE 100 Edges Down on Friday, Set for Weekly Gain
The FTSE 100 traded flat to lower on Friday, weighed down by losses in mining and defence stocks. Antofagasta and Anglo American fell more than 1.5%, while Glencore declined about 1% and Rio Tinto was down 0.6%. Gold producers Fresnillo and Endeavour also lost more than 1%, as gold and silver hovered near one-year lows and copper prices slipped to four-month lows. Defence and aerospace stocks weakened, with Rolls-Royce down nearly 2%, while BAE Systems and Babcock each fell over 1%. In contrast, oil majors Shell and BP gained more than 1%, supported by a rebound in crude prices amid renewed uncertainty over US-Iran relations following President Donald Trump's comments that Washington could forgo a deal with Tehran. Aviva shares rose 2% after the insurer reaffirmed its three-year targets and reported stronger inflows into its wealth business. Despite Friday's subdued performance, the FTSE 100 remained up more than 1.5% for the week.
The FTSE 100 traded flat to lower on Friday, weighed down by losses in mining and defence stocks. Antofagasta and Anglo American fell more than 1.5%, while Glencore declined about 1% and Rio Tinto was down 0.6%. Gold producers Fresnillo and Endeavour also lost more than 1%, as gold and silver hovered near one-year lows and copper prices slipped to four-month lows. Defence and aerospace stocks weakened, with Rolls-Royce down nearly 2%, while BAE Systems and Babcock each fell over 1%.
In contrast, oil majors Shell and BP gained more than 1%, supported by a rebound in crude prices amid renewed uncertainty over US-Iran relations following President Donald Trump's comments that Washington could forgo a deal with Tehran. Aviva shares rose 2% after the insurer reaffirmed its three-year targets and reported stronger inflows into its wealth business. Despite Friday's subdued performance, the FTSE 100 remained up more than 1.5% for the week.