The FTSE 100 slipped about 0.5% on Thursday, extending its decline into a second consecutive session as weakness in commodity-linked stocks dragged on the index. Oil majors Shell and BP lost 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively, as crude prices fell for a fourth straight session. Mining giants Glencore and Rio Tinto also retreated more than 1%, pressured by weaker copper prices, with Glencore additionally trading ex-dividend.
In financials, Prudential shed nearly 2% despite posting stronger first-half new business profit, underpinned by robust performances in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
More broadly, global risk sentiment was bolstered by Nvidia after the chipmaker delivered results that included an upbeat outlook for artificial intelligence demand and projected strong sales growth through 2028, reinforcing confidence in the ongoing AI investment cycle.
