Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 5, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleFTSE 100 closed lower due to energy and bank stocks, while investors assessed economic data. Homebuilders rose, but energy stocks fell.
(Reuters) -Britain's FTSE 100 closed lower on Friday, dragged down by energy and bank stocks, while investors assessed domestic and U.S. economic data.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 was 0.1% lower on the day but ended the week marginally higher.
The domestically focused FTSE 250 closed 0.5% higher but logged its second straight weekly decline.
In the market, the homebuilders' index rose, led by Berkeley, up 3% after reaffirming its profit forecast for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Peers Vistry, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Redrow also advanced.
Precious metal miners and industrial miners rose, tracking higher gold and copper prices, respectively.
Conversely, energy stocks fell 2.4% and weighed on the FTSE 100, with giants Shell and BP down 2.2% and 2.6%, respectively.
Heavyweight bank stocks fell and top lenders HSBC, NatWest, Barclays, and Lloyds were among the biggest laggards on the benchmark index.
Non-life insurers fell, dragged by Admiral Group's 2.9% decline, top loser on FTSE 100, after Peel Hunt downgraded the stock to "sell" from "reduce".
In other moves, Entain rose 3.3%, to top the FTSE 100, after Jefferies raised price target on the betting company.
Ashmore fell 4.3% after the asset manager reported lower-than-expected fee revenue and a dip in profit in its annual results.
Concerns over Britain's finances and the government's ability to keep them under control weighed on the markets earlier this week, briefly sending yields on long-dated government bonds to a 27-year high.
Investors continue to speculate about tax rises that could dampen economic growth, with Britain set to deliver its budget on November 26.
On the data front, retail sales rose more than expected in July.
In the U.S., data showed job growth weakened sharply in August and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, confirming labour market conditions were softening and sealing the case for an interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve this month.
British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned after saying she deeply regretted her mistake of underpaying property tax on a new home.
(Reporting by Sukriti Gupta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
The FTSE 100 closed lower due to declines in energy and bank stocks, with major companies like Shell, BP, HSBC, and Barclays among the biggest laggards.
The FTSE 250 closed 0.5% higher but recorded its second consecutive weekly decline, contrasting with the marginal weekly gain of the FTSE 100.
Retail sales in the UK rose more than expected in July, while in the U.S., job growth weakened sharply in August, contributing to concerns about the economy.
Investors are speculating about potential tax rises in the upcoming UK budget on November 26, which could dampen economic growth.
Admiral Group was the top loser on the FTSE 100, falling 2.9% after Peel Hunt downgraded its stock rating from 'reduce' to 'sell'.
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