FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Little Changed on Thursday

The FTSE 100 remained relatively stable on Thursday, maintaining near-record levels, though it underperformed compared to other European markets due to declining oil and metals prices, which affected major commodity stocks. Energy and mining sectors were the most impacted, with BP and Shell experiencing a dip as crude oil prices decreased for the first time in six days. Similarly, mining companies fell back following a sharp rally earlier in the week. Precious metals receded from their record highs after President Donald Trump suggested a potential delay in military action against Iran, thereby diminishing the demand for safe-haven assets. Fresnillo saw a decline of over 3%, while Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, and Anglo American also saw reductions in their stock values. Contrastingly, Schroders experienced a significant surge of nearly 8% after announcing that earnings would surpass expectations, supported by a favorable asset mix and stable costs. However, homebuilders underperformed, influenced by Taylor Wimpey's cautious outlook for the year ahead, which caused a noticeable drop in its shares. Separately, UK economic data revealed that GDP grew by 0.3% in November, exceeding forecasts, primarily driven by stronger performance in the services sector.