The FTSE 100 rose more than 0.5% on Friday, attempting to claw back some of the sharp 1.5% loss recorded in the previous session during a volatile week dominated by the Middle East crisis. Energy groups outperformed on the back of surging crude prices, with Shell up 0.6% and BP gaining around 1.2% as oil headed for its strongest weekly advance since 2022. Defence stocks also attracted buying, with Rolls-Royce Holdings rising nearly 2% and BAE Systems adding more than 1%.
Banks contributed to the broader move higher, as HSBC Holdings rose about 0.5%, while Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group each climbed close to 0.9%. Despite Friday’s rebound, the FTSE 100 remained on course for a weekly loss of more than 4%, its worst performance since the market turbulence sparked by global tariff tensions last April. The decline brings to an end a run of five consecutive weekly gains in which the index repeatedly set record highs, before escalating geopolitical risks abruptly reversed investor sentiment.
