FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Snaps Winning Streak as Miners Weigh

The FTSE 100 fell 0.9% on Thursday, ending an eight-session winning streak and lagging other major European indices, as losses in mining and utility shares outweighed gains in the energy sector. Risk sentiment weakened after the US conducted air strikes on targets in Iran, which pushed oil prices higher and highlighted the fragility of recent momentum in peace talks.

Miners led the decline, with Fresnillo and Endeavour Mining dropping more than 3%, while Antofagasta, Rio Tinto and Anglo American also traded lower. Utilities were similarly under pressure: National Grid slipped more than 2.5%, and Severn Trent lost 2.4%.

By contrast, energy stocks provided some support. Oil majors BP and Shell each rose about 0.5% as crude prices climbed. SSE was broadly flat after posting earnings ahead of expectations and unveiling plans to lift capital expenditure to more than £5 billion, primarily targeting network infrastructure and renewable energy projects.