FTSE 100 slips as energy, banking stocks drag By Reuters

(Reuters) – London’s FTSE 100 fell on Friday, dragged by weakness in heavyweight energy and banking stocks, with investors weighing the effects of inflation growth and a rise in global cases of COVID-19.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 eased 0.1%, but the index was set to post its third straight weekly gain on support from strong corporate earnings.

HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA), BP (LON:BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) were among the top drags on the FTSE 100 on Friday.

London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSEG) jumped 3.3% to the top of the FTSE 100 after it reported a rise of 4.6% in revenue in the first half of 2021, although it warned about a pick-up in costs in the second part of the year.

The domestically focussed mid-cap index inched 0.2% lower.

Outsourcer Capita rose 1.1% after it said it was on track to deliver organic revenue growth in 2021 as it swung to a first-half profit on strict cost controls and several new contracts.