The FTSE 100 index opened 23.57 points higher at 10,693 on Friday, buoyed by softer-than-expected US employment data that eased expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The index later settled at 10,676.44, reflecting a cautious but positive start to the trading session.
Brent crude futures rose 0.61% to $72.34 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.47% to $69.01 a barrel, supported by the weaker dollar and renewed risk appetite.
Gainers and Losers
On the upside, Fresnillo led the advance with a 2.54% rise to £2,952, followed by SSE which gained 2.44% to £2,520. Metlen Energy & Metals added 1.77% to €42.60, and Weir Group rose 1.72% to £2,486. Anglo American climbed 1.47% to £3,796, while Aberdeen Group increased 1.42% to £257.20.
Among the decliners, Whitbread fell 0.96% to £2,376, Games Workshop dropped 0.75% to £21,320, and Next slipped 0.55% to £14,585. Coca-Cola HBC declined 0.49% to £5,115, AstraZeneca eased 0.29% to £14,496, and London Stock Exchange Group edged down 0.26% to £8,586.
Craneware Shares Plunge 20%
Healthcare software company Craneware saw its shares tumble 20% in early trading after issuing a full-year trading update that warned financial performance would be “below market expectations.” The company said pricing revenue would be between $205 million and $208 million for the year, impacted by a “deferral of a small number of significant enterprise contracts,” which it now expects to close in the next financial year.
“Naturally, we are disappointed not to have delivered the growth that we expected in full-year 2026. While the short-term complexity in the pharmacy market has impacted the year, the long-term opportunity remains intact,” said Craneware CEO Keith Neilson.
Harbour Energy Stake Sale
Investment firm EIG sold its entire 3.5% stake in London-listed oil and gas company Harbour Energy for £112 million. The transaction was executed via an accelerated bookbuild coordinated by Barclays, with Potomac, an investment vehicle controlled by EIG, offloading the shares.
US Jobs Data Weakens
The US economy added just 57,000 nonfarm jobs in June, roughly half the 113,000 forecast, with April and May figures revised lower. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.2%, driven by a fall in labor force participation rather than genuine job creation. Wage growth was in line with expectations, further reducing pressure on the Fed to raise rates.
Global Market Overview
In the US, stocks ended mixed ahead of the Independence Day weekend. The Dow Jones added 1% to close at a fresh record high, while the Nasdaq fell 0.8% as a semiconductor sell-off offset gains. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%.
In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi surged 5.76% to 8,088.34, Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 1.47% to 69,744.07, and Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 0.08%. India’s Nifty 50 and Sensex rose 0.71% and 0.56%, respectively.