10th Oct 2025 09:13
(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened in the red on Friday, while overseas Japan's ruling party and prospective next prime minister faces a setback from the loss of its coalition partner.
The FTSE 100 index was down 12.55 points, 0.1%, at 9,496.85. The FTSE 250 was down 46.51 points, 0.2%, at 22,006.32, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.51 points, 0.3%, at 791.19.
The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 948.72, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3% at 19,246.79, and the Cboe Small Companies was down 0.2% at 17,880.48.
Ibstock was the worst FTSE 250 performer, down 9.4%.
The building products and solutions manufacturer said a more uncertain near-term backdrop for its core construction markets has caused demand to be weaker than expected, affecting Clay and Concrete revenues during the third quarter.
"Market dynamics, coupled with the continued shift in sales mix towards new-build residential demand, have also limited the group's ability to achieve targeted pricing levels," it said.
In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up 0.2%.
The pound was quoted lower at USD1.3296 early on Friday in London, compared to USD1.3305 at the equities close on Thursday. The euro stood at USD1.1576, higher against USD1.1563. Against the yen, the dollar was trading lower at JPY152.85, compared to JPY153.11.
In Asia on Friday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was down 1.0%. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.9%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was down 1.8%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed down 0.1%.
Komeito, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition, said Friday said it was leaving the alliance with the Liberal Democratic Party.
The announcement puts in question whether Sanae Takaichi, who became head of the LDP less than a week ago, will become Japan's first woman prime minister as expected, AFP said.
"We want the LDP-Komeito coalition to go back to the drawing board for now and bring an end to our relationship," Komeito chief Tetsuo Saito said.
In the US on Thursday, Wall Street ended lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.5%, the S&P 500 down 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.1%.
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was quoted at 4.12%, narrowing from 4.15%. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury was quoted at 4.70%, narrowing from 4.73%.
China said Friday it would impose "special port fees" on ships operated by and built in the US after Washington announced charges for Chinese-linked ships in April.
Incremental fees will be collected at Chinese ports from Tuesday, the transport ministry said in a statement.
Brent oil was quoted lower at USD64.81 a barrel early in London on Friday, from USD65.95 late Thursday.
Gold was quoted at USD3,973.03 an ounce, lower against USD4,020.10.
Silver strengthened to USD50.66 an ounce from USD49.66 at Thursday afternoon.
Silver has attained levels not seen since 1980, according to Bloomberg. The surge comes in the wake of sister safe-haven gold, which retreated after hitting a record above USD4,000 an ounce on Wednesday.
Still to come on Friday's economic calendar, the afternoon has Canadian unemployment and the US Michigan consumer sentiment index.
By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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