Commodities
FTSE 100 Slumps Amid Middle East Tensions and BoE Rate Worries
The FTSE 100 index fell 1.25% on Friday to close at 10,681.30, erasing much of Thursday's sharp rally.
The decline followed a strong session on Thursday when the Bank of England kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged and announced it would pause gilt sales for six months while halting long-dated gilts entirely.
Despite positive economic data, including a 0.5% rise in UK retail sales volumes in August and falling oil prices, investors focused on geopolitical tensions and monetary policy concerns.