FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Snaps 2-Day Losing Streak

The FTSE 100 experienced a resurgence, increasing by 0.5% on Thursday after succumbing to losses in the previous two sessions. Notable stocks such as AstraZeneca and HSBC Holdings advanced by more than 1%, while Unilever saw a rise of 0.9%. Conversely, 3i experienced a significant drop, losing over 4% following Citi analysts' indications of a potential downturn in its prominent investment, the discount retailer Action. Similarly, Sage Group exerted downward pressure on the index, falling nearly 4% due to its revenue growth failing to meet forecasts. Energy behemoths BP and Shell also declined by 3.3% and 1.7%, respectively, amid a decline in oil prices prompted by mounting concerns of an oversupply in the global crude oil market. On the economic data front, reports revealed that the UK economy expanded by 0.7% in the first quarter, marking the highest growth rate in a year. This robust figure alleviated some of the pressure on the Bank of England to implement aggressive rate cuts, leading to a slight adjustment in market expectations regarding monetary easing.