The FTSE 100 inched up 0.1% at Friday’s open to 9,106.85, while the broader market remained under pressure. The FTSE 250 slipped 0.3% and the AIM All-Share fell 0.4%, as investors assessed rising geopolitical risks and another disappointing UK retail footfall update.
Talk of fresh US sanctions on Russia, should a Ukraine ceasefire deal collapse, loomed over sentiment in both London and European markets. Paris’ CAC 40 managed a 0.1% rise, while Frankfurt’s DAX 40 dipped 0.2%.
In the US overnight, the Dow Jones slipped 0.5% and the S&P 500 edged down 0.1%, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.4%, continuing its upward run.
Back in the UK, July retail footfall data from the BRC-Sensormatic showed total visits down 0.4% year-on-year. That marked an improvement from June’s 1.8% drop, but high street traffic remained weak, falling 1.7%. Retail parks were the lone bright spot, posting a 1.7% rise in activity.
TBC Bank shares plunged 12% despite stronger interim profit and revenue. The group announced a ₾75 million buyback and raised its dividend by 27%, but the market reaction suggests investors expected more aggressive growth or clearer guidance.
Futura Medical crashed 20% after warning that sales of its Eroxon product have been “unpredictable” and remain difficult to forecast. The company has launched a full strategic review and appointed Alex Duggan as interim CEO. Finance Director Angela Hildreth will exit following a six-month notice period.
Blue Star Capital rose nearly 5% after reporting that SatoshiPay has fully deployed a £1 million loan into Ethereum purchases, boosting its digital asset holdings.