FTSE 100 closes lower as Middle East tensions persist
The FTSE 100 edged lower on Friday as Middle East tensions and weak consumer sentiment weighed on markets. Healthcare gains helped offset broader losses.
The United Kingdom's FTSE 100 index closed slightly lower on Friday as geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East continued to weigh on global markets. While the blue-chip index maintained slim weekly gains, broader sentiment remained fragile amid escalating tensions and weak domestic economic indicators.
Investors focused on the developing situation between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump set a deadline of April 6 for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that failure to do so could lead to the destruction of energy facilities. This move followed Iran's rejection of a proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
