.png){kind=logo}
The FTSE 100 index declined sharply on Friday, down 1.4% or 131.74 points at 9,304.35, due to weakness in the banking stocks, and global growth concerns dragged sentiment lower. Despite the broader market decline, select blue-chip stocks managed to limit losses with strong corporate updates.
Pearson was the biggest gainer on the FTSE 100, up 3.02% to £1,127, due to the announcement of 4% sales growth in the third quarter, up from 2% in the first nine months of the year.
The company’s virtual learning division surged 17% YoY, with a 13% increase in student enrollments for the 2025-26 academic year.
Chief Executive Omar Abbosh said Pearson remains on track to meet full-year expectations, citing “another quarter of good progress and robust performance.”
Smiths Group climbed 1.61% to £2,404 after confirming the £1.3 billion sale of its Interconnect unit to Molex Electronic Technologies.
The sale forms part of Smiths’ ongoing strategic overhaul and will allow the company to return a large portion of proceeds to shareholders.
CEO Roland Carter said the move marks “an important step in unlocking the inherent value of the business”.
Coca-Cola added 1.15% to £3,534, supported by stable quarterly volumes and continued momentum in emerging markets.
Banking stocks were among the worst performers. Barclays tumbled 5% to £359.4, NatWest dropped 3% to £530.2, and Lloyds slipped 2.2% to £82.3, following weakness in US regional banks.
Investors grew cautious after two mid-tier American lenders reported rising bad loan provisions, reviving memories of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.
Gold continued its bullish rally, reaching an all-time high of $4,370 an ounce, before settling around $4,341. The metal is on track for its best weekly performance in more than 5 years, with a yearly increase of over 50%.
The rally has been underpinned by expectations of US interest rate cuts, a weaker dollar, and renewed demand from investors seeking safety amid global uncertainty.
Also Read: Stock Market Today: Sensex at 84,121, Nifty at 25,769 as IT Falls and Gold Hits $4,300
US futures signaled further weakness, with the S&P 500 expected to open down by 1% and the VIX volatility index is at its highest since April. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq also declined overnight as investors reacted to mixed corporate earnings, China trade tensions, and renewed concerns about the US government shutdown.
Markets were down in Asia as well. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell by 1.5% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 1.8%, increasing the global risk-off sentiment.
