10th Apr 2026 11:48
(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 was higher at midday on Friday, near the end of a nervous week for markets amid some positive signs for the "fragile" US-Iran ceasefire.
The FTSE 100 index was up 38.25 points, 0.4%, at 10,641.73. The FTSE 250 was up 219.78 points, 1.0%, at 22,425.42, and the AIM all-share was up 6.60 points, 0.9%, at 775.95.
The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 1,061.96, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.2% at 19,526.28, and the Cboe small companies was up 0.6% at 17,732.72.
"The ceasefire agreement announced earlier this week has felt fragile at times, although news that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved direct talks with Lebanon could address one of the key sticking points between the parties," Dan Coatsworth, AJ Bell's head of markets, commented. "With talks between Tehran and Washington set to get underway on Saturday, investors could be in for a fretful weekend as they wait for indications of whether a path to lasting peace is possible.
"Ahead of this, investors may well be tempted to hedge their bets."
With US Vice President JD Vance set to lead in the Pakistan-mediated talks, PA earlier on Friday described the temporary ceasefire as a "tenuous" one that "appears to be on the precipice of collapsing," as the gap between US, Iranian and Israeli demands "seems irreconcilable."
Markets are also eyeing US economic data scheduled for Friday afternoon, particularly the US consumer inflation report, which Coatsworth said "may show the initial impact of the war on prices."
He added: "The headline figure is likely to have been pushed up by higher fuel prices at the pump – one of the very first things to be impacted by the conflict. For this reason, there may be greater focus on the core number – which strips out food and energy – to see if inflationary pressures are seeping into other parts of the economy."
Speaking of fuel, Brent oil was quoted lower at USD96.16 a barrel at midday in London on Friday from USD97.36 late on Thursday.
On the FTSE 100, BP was down 1.0% and Shell was down 0.8%. Defence stocks were also lower, with Babcock down 3.3% and BAE Systems down 3.8%.
Airlines ICAG, easyJet and, on the FTSE 250, Wizz Air, were up 2.1%, 2.4% and 12%, respectively.
Also on the 250, B&M European Value Retail lost 3.4%.
The Luxembourg-based value retailer's Interim Chief Financial Officer Helen Cowing has stepped down from her role, having only been in the position since December 1. Cowing, formerly interim CFO at Mobico Group PLC, had replaced Mike Schmidt, who stepped down in the wake of an accounting error.
Group Financial Controller Peter Waterhouse has been appointed as interim CFO with immediate effect. The firm has also added former Pets At Home chief executive Peter Pritchard as a non-executive director.
In small caps, Secure Trust Bank rose 2.0%.
The Solihull, England-based business and consumer lender said it did not expect to make any adjustments to its motor finance redress provision, previously estimated at GBP21.5 million.
On AIM, Atome surged 32%.
The low-carbon fertiliser developer said talks with an equity consortium to fund a plant in Villeta, Paraguay, were "now in the very final stages with definitive documentation being finalised by each party's legal counsel".
In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.8%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up 0.4%.
The pound was quoted higher at USD1.3441 midday Friday, compared to USD1.3437 on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling declined to EUR1.1476 from EUR1.1484 a day prior. The euro stood at USD1.1711, higher against USD1.1705. Against the yen, the dollar was trading higher at JPY159.25 compared to JPY158.97.
Stocks in New York were called lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was called down 0.2%, the S&P 500 index down 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 3.25 points.
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was quoted at 4.29%, narrowing from 4.30%. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury was quoted at 4.90%, widening from 4.89%.
Gold was quoted lower at USD4,758.49 an ounce against USD4,791.50.
Still to come on Friday's economic calendar, as well as CPI the US has factory order figures and its monthly budget statement. Also, Canada releases unemployment data.
By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
BPShellInternational AirlineseasyJetWizz AirB&MSecure TrustAtome