FTSE 100 up 0.2 percent at midday as BT and AstraZeneca gain
Published on 10/30/2026 at 13:26 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFTSE 100 Holds Above Thursday Close
- The FTSE 100 stood at 10,741.82 points at midday on October 30, up 19.75 points, or 0.2 percent, from the previous close.
- Telecommunications and pharmaceutical stocks supported the index, while NatWest fell sharply after its net interest income missed expectations.
- Stronger-than-expected eurozone growth and continuing energy-supply disruptions shaped the wider European market backdrop.
The FTSE 100 was higher in the European midday session on Friday, October 30, 2026, with gains in telecommunications and pharmaceuticals offsetting a sharp decline in NatWest. The index stood at 10,741.82 points at 11:59 GMT, up 19.75 points, or 0.2 percent, from Thursday's close of 10,722.07.
Telecoms and healthcare provide support
According to Alliance News via Morningstar, BT Group was among the strongest FTSE 100 performers, rising 5.7 percent after reports that Virgin Media O2 was nearing an agreement to use BT's Openreach fibre network. AstraZeneca advanced 3.8 percent after reporting higher third-quarter revenue and profit and maintaining its full-year guidance.
AstraZeneca said third-quarter pretax profit rose 22 percent to USD3.96 billion, while revenue increased 6.7 percent to USD16.21 billion. The company also maintained its outlook for full-year revenue growth in the mid-to-high single-digit range and low double-digit core earnings-per-share growth at constant exchange rates.
NatWest weighs on the benchmark
NatWest Group was the main drag among blue-chip stocks, falling 7.4 percent. The bank reported third-quarter operating pretax profit of GBP2.23 billion, up from GBP2.18 billion a year earlier, and total income of GBP4.64 billion, compared with GBP4.33 billion previously. However, net interest income of GBP3.56 billion fell short of market expectations, weighing on the shares despite the reaffirmation of full-year guidance.
European growth beats expectations
The broader European backdrop was mixed. Preliminary Eurostat data showed eurozone gross domestic product grew 0.4 percent quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter, ahead of the 0.2 percent forecast, although growth slowed from 0.6 percent in the second quarter. The eurozone unemployment rate remained at 6.5 percent in September.
Energy markets also remained relevant for London equities. Brent crude was quoted at USD117.25 a barrel at midday, up from USD113.75 at Thursday's London equity close, as disruptions to global energy supplies continued. European countries are preparing to release 42.6 million barrels from strategic reserves, according to the midday market report.
US markets were expected to open weaker overall, with the S&P 500 called down 1.1 percent and the Nasdaq Composite down 2.5 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was called up 0.1 percent. The divergence highlights the FTSE 100's exposure to defensive healthcare, telecommunications and energy companies rather than technology-heavy growth stocks. The index remained in a live trading session at the reported time, so the midday level should not be treated as a closing value.
Further FTSE 100 coverage is available on the FTSE 100 topic page.
