FTSE 100 Sees Weekly Rise with Support from Mining and Commodity Shares
Market Performance and Key Drivers
Aug 21 (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 closed higher on Friday, boosted by gains in mining stocks, and managing to eke out a weekly gain at the end of a torrid week marred by persistent Middle East tensions and growing inflation worries.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 10,816.6 points, also clocking a 0.6% rise for the week. The midcap FTSE 250 climbed 0.9% but marked its first weekly decline in six.
Mining and Commodity Shares Lead Gains
• Precious and industrial metal miners rose as gold and copper prices edged higher against a dollar weakened by the U.S. Treasury's bond buyback move. Antofagasta and Endeavour Mining rose 5.4% and 4.1%, respectively, leading gains in the FTSE 100. [MET/L] [GOL/]
Impact of U.S. Treasury Actions
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday he may further increase the government's repurchases of Treasuries, in an effort to support a government debt market that had begun to balk after the previous day's surprise plan to double buybacks.
Global Market Sentiment
• Global stocks were set for their biggest weekly fall since mid-July, as strain in global bond markets showed little sign of abating.
Geopolitical and Economic Factors
Middle East Tensions
• Iran said that its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership.
UK Economic Indicators
Retail Sales and Consumer Behavior
• British retail sales fell back as expected in July after a surge in June when hot weather boosted demand for fans and air conditioners, while supermarkets offered promotions alongside the men's soccer World Cup, official figures showed.
Services Sector Growth
• Separately, Britain's services sector, the engine of its economy, grew unexpectedly this month, according to a survey, adding to signs of resilience despite the conflict in the Middle East.
Company Highlights
Notable Movers in the FTSE
• British telecom services provider Gamma Communications gained 11.6% after it said it was in early talks with the Netherlands-based Waterland Private Equity Investments over a possible takeover.
• Energy services firm Hunting sank 14.5% as it lowered its annual core profit forecast after delays to a major Kuwait Oil Company tender process.
(Reporting by Anand Gopal and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Tasim Zahid)
