Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

UK equities head for best week since mid-March

UK equities head for best week since mid-March

UK's FTSE 100 inched higher on Friday, putting the blue-chip index on course for its best weekly showing since mid-March, although oil and gas stocks came under renewed pressure after the UK government's windfall tax plan this week.
The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.1%, with most European markets looking set to end the week higher, taking heart from a Wall Street rally after the Federal Reserve minutes suggested it could pause its rapid rate hikes later this year.

UK-listed global miners such as Glencore (GLEN.L), Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and Antofagasta (ANTO.L) rose about 2% each as copper and iron ore prices were boosted by a weaker dollar.

However, oil majors such as BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) slipped about 1% after Britain announced a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas producers' profits on Thursday.

Power generators such as SSE (SSE.L), Centrica (CNA.L) and Drax (DRX.L) dropped between 2.7% and 3.7%, while Harbour Energy (HBR.L), the biggest UK North Sea oil and gas producer, dropped 6.7% and EnQuest (ENQ.L) fell 8.6%.

"The big shakedown will be how investors in the UK's oil and gas majors like BP and Shell will feel about windfall taxes," said Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

"While not a long-term problem for profits, the incentivisation to invest their profits could see dividends trimmed."

The domestically oriented FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) gained 0.5%, with transport group FirstGroup Plc (FGP.L) extending gains for a second day after attracting buyout interest from an investment firm.

Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes were set to post their biggest weekly gains in over two months, with banks and retailers providing the biggest boost.

Retailers have gained this week after the government's new 15 billion pound ($19 billion) package of support for households spurred hopes of more spending.

Food delivery company Deliveroo (ROO.L) slipped 2.4% after JPMorgan downgraded the stock to "neutral".
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×