AUS
NZ
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GER
ESP
ITA
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UAE
Highlights
Travel-related equities such as LON:EZJ and LON:IHG see early declines amid rising oil and gold prices
Energy stocks including LON:BP and LON:SHEL move higher as Brent crude approaches recent highs
LON:HLMA leads gainers in the FTSE 100 after strong financial results
The FTSE 100 opened with modest movement as market participants weighed a mixed landscape of rising commodity prices and downward pressure on consumer-facing sectors. Within the FTSE 350, travel and leisure stocks faced widespread weakness while oil-linked equities showed strength in early trading.
Travel and Leisure Stocks Slide
Airline and tourism stocks were among the key drags across the FTSE 100 and broader FTSE market. (LON:EZJ) dropped at the open, following similar weakness in global aviation peers. LON:IHG also moved lower, extending losses alongside (LON:WTB) and (LON:ICAG).
Over in the FTSE AIM UK 50 Index, (LON:WIZZ) declined, while (LON:OTB) was also under pressure. The broader sentiment in the travel sector appeared linked to recent gains in oil and precious metals, which tend to exert cost-related strain on airlines and cruise operators.
International counterparts including Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines also experienced overnight declines, adding weight to negative sentiment across European carriers.
Oil and Commodities Rise
Energy companies advanced as oil prices approached recent highs. (LON:BP) and (LON:SHEL) rose on the back of gains in Brent crude, which briefly touched levels last seen in early spring. The move provided support to oil-focused equities despite the overall market struggling for direction.
Precious metals also showed upward momentum, lifting spot gold prices. (LON:FRES) registered a gain, reflecting broader interest in the mining and commodities space as geopolitical concerns continued to shape risk appetite.
Corporate Results Boost LON:HLMA
(LON:HLMA) emerged as a top gainer in the FTSE 100 after publishing positive final results. The technology-driven engineering group attracted early buying interest, distancing itself from the broader market indecision.
Elsewhere, (LON:TSCO) recorded upward movement amid ongoing competitive pressure in the supermarket space. The company continues to navigate tight margins, though recent data showed improvement in underlying performance.
Global Influences Weigh on Sentiment
Equity indices including the Euro Stoxx 600 and key Asia-Pacific benchmarks such as JP225 and HK50 opened weaker. This external backdrop contributed to caution across London-listed equities, with traders awaiting further economic indicators and macro data.
UK GDP figures pointed to a slowdown in services and manufacturing, contributing to the tentative tone seen across the FTSE 100. The balance of strength in commodities and weakness in travel created divergence within sectors at the open.
