The FTSE 100 opened 37.60 points higher at 10,717.59 despite a global bond sell-off, as investors also monitor escalating tensions around Saudi Arabia after fresh Houthi missile attacks. Brent crude futures fell 0.29% to USD 106.3 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined 1.11% to USD 93.56 per barrel.
Sterling was quoted at USD 1.3219 early Friday, higher than USD 1.3214 at the London equities close on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling fell to EUR 1.1620 from EUR 1.1628 a day prior.
On the upside, Computacenter rose 3.15% to 5,405p. Smiths Group advanced 2.25% to 2,819p, while Standard Chartered gained 1.86% to 2,299p. Aberdeen Group rose 1.83% to 245.40p, Endeavour Mining added 1.57% to 4,522p, and Glencore increased 1.57% to 557.60p.
On the downside, BP declined 2.47% to 557.70p. British American Tobacco dropped 1.11% to 4,196p, while Unilever declined 1.00% to 4,661.50p. Reckitt Benckiser Group and Shell both fell 0.41% to 4,903p and 3,626p, respectively, while Admiral Group slipped 0.39% to 3,626p.
The 10-year gilt yield hit 5.38% on Thursday, the highest it has been in over a week, amid global bond market pressure.
This is particularly important as, when bond yields go up, borrowing costs for companies and governments tend to rise. Investors are watching closely how the Bank of England might respond. According to Reuters, traders are expecting at least one 25-basis-point rate hike from the BoE this year.
According to company filings, Financial Times and Bloomberg’s UK arms' profits increased in 2025. The Financial Times reported a GBP 6 million jump in profit to just under GBP 15 million for the year, while Bloomberg Index Services, a UK subsidiary of the US firm that provides data to clients via the Bloomberg Terminal, posted a $12 million profit rise to around USD 125 million (GBP 94 million).
Bloomberg, which saw a 10% rise in turnover, said its increase in revenue was “primarily driven by growth from new business and the expansion of existing customer relationships,” while the FT said its digital subscriptions and sales jumped from live events.
Land developer Harworth recommended that shareholders accept a GBP 632 million takeover offer from its largest shareholder, Peel Holdings. The firm told investors the offer gives them the “opportunity to realise the entirety of their interests in cash against the current uncertainty presented by a weak macroeconomic backdrop”.
The new 187p-per-share bid represents a 30% premium on Harworth’s closing share price on the day Peel Holdings made its first offer
Also Read: US 30-Year Bond Yield Hits Highest Level Since 2004 Amid Selloff
In the US, the Dow Jones slid 161.61 points, or 0.31%, to 51,349.98. The S&P 500 ticked lower by 0.02% to 7,704.13. The Nasdaq Composite eked out a 0.01% gain to 26,939.37
In Asia on Friday, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 1.3% to 66,364.2, while China’s Shanghai Composite dipped 1.22%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.03%, and South Korea’s Kospi edged up by 0.9%. In India, both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex fell by 0.11% and 0.014%, respectively.
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