FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Edges Down on Friday, Set for Weekly Gain

The FTSE 100 drifted flat to lower on Friday, pressured by weakness in mining and defence shares. Among miners, Antofagasta and Anglo American each dropped more than 1.5%, while Glencore slipped around 1% and Rio Tinto edged down 0.6%. Precious metals producers Fresnillo and Endeavour also retreated by more than 1%, as gold and silver hovered near one-year lows and copper traded at a four-month low.

Defence and aerospace names were also under pressure. Rolls-Royce slid nearly 2%, while BAE Systems and Babcock both declined by more than 1%. By contrast, oil majors provided some support to the index: Shell and BP advanced more than 1%, buoyed by a rebound in crude prices amid renewed uncertainty over US–Iran relations, after President Donald Trump suggested Washington could walk away from a deal with Tehran.

In corporate news, Aviva gained 2% after the insurer reaffirmed its three-year targets and reported stronger inflows into its wealth division. Despite Friday’s muted session, the FTSE 100 still finished the week more than 1.5% higher.