FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Little Changed, Set for Weekly Loss

The FTSE 100 traded flat to slightly higher on Friday as markets steadied following a turbulent week driven by renewed tensions in the Middle East. Mining stocks underpinned the index, with Rio Tinto up around 1.5%, Glencore advancing 0.5%, and Anglo American and Antofagasta gaining 1.1% and 0.8%, respectively. By contrast, AstraZeneca fell more than 1%, extending Thursday’s 6.2% slide after its gene-silencing therapy Wainua failed a late-stage clinical trial. In the FTSE 250, EasyJet jumped after private equity group Apollo agreed to buy the airline for £7.15 per share in a deal worth about £5.7 billion, topping a rival bid from Castlelake. Investors continued to track developments in the Middle East, though market volatility subsided as the week drew to a close. Despite Friday’s calmer session, the FTSE 100 was still down about 1.8% for the week.