The FTSE 100 opened 37.60 points higher at 10,717.59 despite a global bond sell-off, as investors also monitor escalating tensions around Saudi Arabia after fresh Houthi missile attacks. Brent crude futures fell 0.29% to USD 106.3 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined 1.11% to USD 93.56 per barrel. 

Sterling was quoted at USD  1.3219 early Friday, higher than USD 1.3214 at the London equities close on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling fell to EUR 1.1620 from EUR 1.1628 a day prior.

On the upside, Computacenter rose 3.15% to 5,405p. Smiths Group advanced 2.25% to 2,819p, while Standard Chartered gained 1.86% to 2,299p. Aberdeen Group rose 1.83% to 245.40p, Endeavour Mining added 1.57% to 4,522p, and Glencore increased 1.57% to 557.60p.

On the downside, BP declined 2.47% to 557.70p. British American Tobacco dropped 1.11% to 4,196p, while Unilever declined 1.00% to 4,661.50p. Reckitt Benckiser Group and Shell both fell 0.41% to 4,903p and 3,626p, respectively, while Admiral Group slipped 0.39% to 3,626p.

The 10-year gilt yield hit 5.38% on Thursday, the highest it has been in over a week, amid global bond market pressure. 

This is particularly important as, when bond yields go up, borrowing costs for companies and governments tend to rise. Investors are watching closely how the Bank of England might respond. According to Reuters, traders are expecting at least one 25-basis-point rate hike from the BoE this year.

According to company filings, Financial Times and Bloomberg’s UK arms' profits increased in 2025. The Financial Times reported a GBP 6 million jump in profit to just under GBP 15 million for the year, while Bloomberg Index Services, a UK subsidiary of the US firm that provides data to clients via the Bloomberg Terminal, posted a $12 million profit rise to around USD 125 million (GBP 94 million).

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