London’s benchmark equity indexes traded lower on Friday as weakness in commodity-linked stocks and continued uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence-related shares weighed on investor sentiment.
Declining crude oil and metal prices further pressured the market, while investors also remained focused on inflation risks and the outlook for UK interest rates.
Commodity stocks lead market decline
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.7% by 0907 GMT, while the domestically focused FTSE 250 index declined 0.6%.
Energy companies were among the biggest drags on the FTSE 100.
Shares of Shell and BP each fell more than 1%, tracking a nearly 2% decline in crude oil prices after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumed.
The stronger US dollar also weighed on commodity markets.
Ongoing uncertainty surrounding technology stocks and inflation concerns pushed both base and precious metal prices lower, adding further pressure on mining and chemical companies.
Chemical stocks emerged as the worst-performing sector, falling 2.8%.
Mining companies also remained under pressure, with the sector losing more than 1%.
While commodity-linked stocks declined, investors shifted towards sectors generally viewed as more resilient during periods of economic uncertainty.
Food, Beverage, and Tobacco stocks gained around 1%, while Personal Goods companies also advanced by approximately 1%, providing limited support to the broader market.
The rotation into defensive sectors reflected cautious investor positioning amid ongoing concerns over global market volatility.
Wise rallies after customer growth update
Money transfer company Wise stood out as one of the strongest performers during the session.
The company’s shares climbed 7.6% after it reported that active customers increased 21% to 18.9 million during fiscal 2026.
Wise also announced plans to launch a new share purchase programme, boosting investor confidence.
Improving sentiment followed easing tensions in the Middle East.
In contrast, the more domestically focused FTSE 250 was heading towards modest weekly losses.
Travel and leisure companies continued to face pressure from the impact of the regional conflict.
Heathrow Airport lowered its passenger forecast for 2026 and warned that its profit could shrink this year, highlighting the challenges facing the sector.
Investors focus on inflation and interest rates
Beyond corporate developments, investors remained attentive to inflation risks and monetary policy expectations.
Market participants continued to assess the possibility of second-round inflation pressures.
According to LSEG-compiled data, markets have priced in at least one 25-basis-point interest rate increase by the Bank of England later this year.
The combination of inflation concerns, uncertainty surrounding AI-related stocks, and weakness across commodity markets contributed to a cautious trading environment, leaving London’s major indexes under pressure heading into the close of the week.
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