The FTSE 100 posted modest falls on Thursday, closing well above early lows, as investors weighed the latest developments in the Middle East. The blue-chip index closed down 19.45 points, or 0.2%, at 10,457.01, having earlier traded as low as 10,361.45.
The FTSE 250 ended down 207.49 points, or 0.9%, at 22,764.52, while the Aim All-Share fell 5.99 points, or 0.7%, at 802.13.
US-Iran tensions persist
US President Donald Trump continued to strike a defiant tone as the US-Iran conflict continued amid the ongoing ceasefire. Mr Trump said he has ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be… that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.”
US Central Command said it has ordered 31 vessels to turn around or return to port since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz began. Meanwhile, the US Defence Department said on Thursday that its forces boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean that was transporting oil from Iran.
More optimistically, various news outlets reported that an Iranian diplomatic source told the Russian news agency Ria Novosti on Thursday that preparations for negotiations between Iran and the US in Pakistan could lead to a breakthrough as early as tonight or tomorrow.
AJ Bell analyst Dan Coatsworth noted: “There continue to be mixed messages around peace talks, creating an air of uncertainty that periodically stops investors in their tracks. It’s one of those days where investors have dialled back risk appetite to consider what could go wrong, rather than shrugging off the backdrop of conflict to bid markets higher.”
Oil and markets
Brent oil traded at $103.25 a barrel on Thursday afternoon, compared to $101.42 at the time of the equities close in London on Wednesday. Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets, fears that while previous market moves were “driven by escalation and de-escalation of the conflict, we are now heading towards a slow grind higher for energy prices as the prospect of a drawn-out stalemate comes into play.”
In European equities on Wednesday, the Cac 40 in Paris ended up 0.9%, supported by gains in L’Oreal, and the Dax 40 in Frankfurt fell 0.2%. In New York, markets stabilised after strong gains on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.1%, as was the Nasdaq Composite, while the S&P 500 was 0.1% higher.
Tesla fell 2.6% after it announced a big jump in capex, and some delays to product roll-outs, taking the shine off better-than-expected financial results. “Tesla’s physical AI ventures offer large potential revenue opportunities, but could take a while to get there,” UBS summed up, continuing to believe Tesla is driven by “narrative/sentiment not fundamentals.”
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was unchanged at 4.29% on Thursday, while the yield on the US 30-year Treasury was flat at 4.89%.
Currency and UK data
The pound eased to $1.3500 on Thursday afternoon from $1.3506 on Wednesday. Against the euro, sterling firmed to €1.1551 from €1.1525. The euro traded lower against the greenback, falling to $1.1708 on Thursday from $1.1722 on Wednesday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading slightly little changed at ¥159.50 from ¥159.39.
In the UK, the private sector regained growth momentum in April, according to preliminary purchasing managers’ index survey results released by S&P Global. The flash PMI composite output index registered 52.0 points in April, above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction, and up from March’s reading of 50.3 points, indicating an accelerated pace of growth. The reading came in ahead of FXStreet-cited market consensus, which had forecast the UK private sector would slip into contraction with a 49.8-point PMI reading.
JPMorgan analyst Allan Monks noted a surge in input price readings, including within the less energy-intensive services sector. In addition, the jump in output price readings also indicates that pricing power is “alive and well,” he said. While the labour market “remains weak,” it’s a “reoccurring theme in the UK data that growth, wage and pricing pressures continue to hold up despite the stall in hiring,” he added. Mr Monks thinks the report suggests inflation risks should dominate growth risks in the Bank of England’s thinking when it considers interest rates. The BoE meets next week, and is widely expected to leave rates on hold at 3.75%.
FTSE 100 movers
On the FTSE 100, London Stock Exchange Group climbed 1.1% after it hailed a “record performance” in the first quarter of 2026 and raised its annual guidance. While Relx shares were down 2.0% despite reporting that it has “started the year well,” and guiding further growth for the full year.
Legal & General fell 5.6% as it traded ex-dividend, as did Fresnillo, which fell 6.4%. Sainsbury, down 3.7%, was another in the red as the food retailer warned that the Middle East crisis could squeeze profit in the current financial year. “The conflict in the Middle East will impact both our customers and our business,” it said in a statement as it reported full-year results. “The duration and extent of these impacts is very uncertain and this is reflected in our profit guidance.” Chief executive Simon Roberts pledged to do “everything we can” to support customers over the coming months, with “absolute focus on keeping prices low.”
FTSE 250 movers
On the FTSE 250, WH Smith plunged 9.2% as it lowered profit guidance and suspended its dividend, taking a more cautious view on passenger numbers as a result of the Middle East crisis. Man Group shares were down 7.3% after it reported unexpected net outflows in the first three months of 2026, including an eye-watering $6.1 billion redemption by a single client. The London-based investment management firm reported net outflows of $1.6 billion in the quarter, compared to market consensus, cited by JPMorgan, for net inflows of $1.8 billion. Outflows included a $6.1 billion redemption from a single client in long-only systematic equity, Man Group said.
Gold traded at $4,731.39 an ounce on Thursday, down from $4,734.05 at the same time on Wednesday.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Anglo American, up 148.0p at 3,777.0p; Melrose Industries, up 9.6p at 509.6; Rolls-Royce, up 21.6p at 1,160.2p; Vodafone, up 2.15p at 116.25p; and BT Group, up 3.85p at 220.25p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Fresnillo, down 234.0p at 3,426.0p; Legal & General, down 14.95p at 253.65p; Sage Group, down 36.0p at 888.2p; J Sainsbury, down 13.0p at 340.1p; and Experian, down 102.0p at 2,779.5p.
Friday’s global economic calendar has UK retail sales figures at 7am BST, followed by the Michigan consumer sentiment index and Canadian retail sales data. Friday’s local corporate calendar has a trading statement from packaging firm Mondi.
– Contributed by Alliance News
