FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Steadies Ahead of Christmas

On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 experienced a slight uptick, attempting to regain footing after a previous 0.3% decline. The healthcare sector led the gains, buoyed by optimistic industry developments. Novo Nordisk's shares surged following US approval for their oral version of the highly successful obesity drug, Wegovy, boosting sector confidence. This wave of positivity saw AstraZeneca rise approximately 0.7%, while GlaxoSmithKline also advanced, bolstering the index. However, gains were restrained due to underperformance in other key sectors. Energy stocks underwhelmed as oil prices eased, with BP declining by 0.4% and Shell remaining largely unchanged. Additionally, the banking sector added downward pressure, as shares in HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, and NatWest all fell.