HKG:00001 1 February 2026

April 28, 2026, 3:42 AM EDT. The FTSE 100 opened slightly lower, down 11 points to 10,310, led by Barclays falling 2.8% after disappointing quarterly results. Housebuilders including Persimmon and Berkeley dropped following warnings from Taylor Wimpey about rising building costs and squeezed margins due to inflation in construction expenses. Drugmakers AstraZeneca and GSK also declined, alongside firms sensitive to artificial intelligence concerns like RELX and LSEG. Conversely, BP gained 2.5%, benefiting from a surge in profits driven by volatile oil prices exceeding $110 a barrel amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Market analysts highlight that elevated geopolitical risks and unresolved peace negotiations are keeping oil prices high, adding nervousness to the market. Consumer inflation easing contrasts with cost pressures in the housing sector, reflecting uneven economic signals.