FTSE 100 slides amid plunging consumer confidence

GSK plc (LON: GSK): The shares of the leading manufacturer of medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare goods, GSK plc, were up by 1.44%, with a day’s high of GBX 1,422.20. The company has recently acquired the Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical firm Affinivax, Inc.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (LON: RKT): The shares of the leading consumer goods business, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, were up by 1.57%, with a day’s high of GBX 6,616.00. The company has recently raised its sales forecast on the back on shoppers absorbing higher prices.

AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN): The shares of the leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical products, AstraZeneca plc, were up by 1.49%, with a day’s high of GBX 11,178.00. The company recently reported that its breast cancer drug has performed well in the latest trials.

US Markets: The US market is likely to get a sluggish start, as indicated by the futures indices. S&P 500 future was down by 37.25 points or 0.87% at 4,249.00, while the Dow Jones 30 future was down by 0.77% or 261 points at 33,720.00. The technology-heavy index Nasdaq Composite future was also down by 1.00% or 134.75 points, at 13,390.50. (At the time of writing – 8:15 AM ET).

The shares of the American heavy equipment maker, Deere (DE), went down by 5.2% in premarket trading session. This happened after the company reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings even after making above-expected sales.

The shares of the athletic footwear and apparel retailer, Foot Locker (FL), went up by 17.4% in the premarket trading session. This happened after the company reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings along with a CEO transition.

European Indices Performance (at the time of writing):

FTSE 100 Index One Year Performance (as on 19 August)

                                                                       (Source: Refinitiv)

Top 3 Volume Stocks in FTSE 100*: Lloyds Banking Group plc (LLOY), Barclays plc (BARC), Centrica plc (CNA)

Top 3 sectors traded in red*:  Real Estate (-1.43%), Basic Materials (-0.92%), Consumer Cyclicals (-0.46%)

Top 3 sectors traded in green*: Healthcare (1.40%), Energy (0.79%), Consumer Non-Cyclicals (0.70%)

London Stock Exchange: Stocks Performance (at the time of writing):

Crude Oil Future Prices*: Brent future crude oil (future) price and WTI crude oil (future) price were hovering at $94.85/barrel and $89.12/barrel, respectively.

Gold Price*: Gold price was quoting at US$ 1,763.45 per ounce, down by 0.45% against the prior day closing.

Currency Rates*: GBP to USD: 1.1827; EUR to USD: 1.0050.

Bond Yields*: US 10-Year Treasury yield: 2.963%; UK 10-Year Government Bond yield: 2.4655

*At the time of writing