18th Sep 2026 12:28
(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London were mixed at midday on Friday, with the FTSE 100 weighed down by steep losses for Airtel Africa.
The FTSE 100 index was down 83.60 points, 0.8%, at 10,732.54. The FTSE 250 was up 8.64 points, 0.1%, at 24,360.78, and the AIM all-share was up 5.73 points, 0.7%, at 798.36.
The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 1,067.62, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 21,170.36, and the Cboe small companies was up 0.1% at 18,785.37.
At the top of the FTSE 100, Fresnillo rose 2.1%, IG Group Holdings gained 1.9%, and AstraZeneca added 1.1%.
AstraZeneca said the US Food & Drug Administration has accepted and granted 'Priority Review' designation to Alexion's biologics licence application for efzimfotase alfa to treat patients aged two years and older with hypophosphatasia, a rare inherited metabolic disease.
AstraZeneca said the US Food & Drug Administration has accepted and granted 'Priority Review' designation to Alexion's biologics licence application for efzimfotase alfa to treat patients aged two years and older with hypophosphatasia, a rare inherited metabolic disease.
At the bottom of the FTSE 100, Airtel Africa tumbled 8.5%. Bloomberg reported that its Airtel Money arm is considering raising at least USD800 million in its planned London initial public offering, substantially below the previously targeted USD1.50 billion to USD2.00 billion.
The mobile money business is also considering a valuation of USD8.00 billion to USD9.00 billion, down from the USD10.00 billion previously sought, following investor feedback. Airtel Money could file for the IPO as early as next week and is targeting the start of trading on the London Stock Exchange in October.
Also recording steep losses on the FTSE 100, Coca-Cola HBC fell 5.6%, Vodafone Group lost 4.5%, BT Group was down 4.3%, and Next fell 4.2%.
On the FTSE 250, Ocado Group jumped 5.4%.
Among smaller caps, Ecofin US Renewables Infrastructure Trust fell 9.1% after reporting a decline in net asset value per share.
Nativo Resources surged 98% after agreeing to financing and an equity subscription for phase one of the La Patona gold plant, while Dianomi jumped 70% after agreeing to be acquired by Taboola.com.
Mothercare plummeted 71% after launching a strategic review and warning that its long-term solvency is "highly uncertain", after its Middle East franchise partner began reviewing its store estate amid a volatile trading backdrop.
Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway's founder Warren Buffett has stepped down as chair of the company, the company confirmed.
Buffett first invested in Berkshire Hathaway more than 60 years ago, when it was still a textile company. Under Buffett's control, the Omaha, Nebraska-based firm became the investment congolomerate it is known as today.
Berkshire Hathaway has appointed his son, Howard Buffett, who has been a director of the company since 1993, as the next chair, effective immediately.
Warren Buffett will transition to the role of chair emeritus.
The pound was quoted at USD1.3358 at midday Friday, compared with USD1.3356 at the London equities close on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling rose to EUR1.1643 from EUR1.1627 a day prior.
The euro stood at USD1.1472, compared with USD1.1480 late Thursday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JPY157.84 versus JPY155.80.
In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.7%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was also down 0.7%.
Eurozone consumers expect inflation to remain elevated as higher energy costs stemming from the Iran war feed through to household expenses, according to a European Central Bank survey released on Friday.
Consumers expected inflation to average 3.0% over the next 12 months in August, up from 2.9% in July, the ECB said.
Medium-term inflation expectations also increased, with consumers expecting inflation to average 2.9% over the next three years, up from 2.7% previously. Expectations for inflation five years ahead also edged higher.
The increases come amid sharply higher energy prices due to the US-Israeli war against Iran, now in its seventh month, with consumers feeling the oil price shock through higher fuel and heating costs.
Stocks in New York were called higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was called up 0.1%, the S&P 500 up 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.5%.
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was quoted at 4.95%, unchanged from Thursday. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury was quoted at 5.28%, narrowing from 5.30%.
Brent oil was quoted at USD102.50 a barrel at midday in London on Friday, down from USD103.65 late Thursday.
Gold was quoted at USD4,384.89 an ounce, higher than USD4,356.36 on Thursday.
Still to come on Friday's economic calendar, US industrial production is released at 1315 GMT, with production expected to rise 0.3% month-on-month in August, according to consensus, accelerating from a 0.2% increase in July.
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
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Airtel AfricaCoca-Cola HBCVodafoneBTFresnilloIGAstrazenecaOcadoEcofin U.s. $Ecofin U.s.Nativo ResourcesDianomiMothercare