05.11.202508:24:06UTC+00FTSE 100 Falls on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the FTSE 100 experienced a decline as investors moved away from riskier assets due to concerns about high market valuations. Key players like HSBC, AstraZeneca, and BP saw their shares decrease by approximately 0.4% to 0.7%, whereas Shell, Rolls-Royce, and GSK exhibited little change. Unilever and BAT managed to record modest gains. Marks & Spencer faced a decline of over 1% following its report of weaker results for the first half of the year, which saw sales and profits impacted by a cyberattack disrupting its online platform. The company's fashion, home, and beauty segments suffered a 16% fall in sales, and its adjusted pre-tax profit dropped by 55%. However, food sales improved by 7.8%. The retailer noted persistent uncertainty in consumer conditions but is optimistic about profit recovery in the second half. In contrast, homebuilder Barratt Redrow advanced by approximately 2% after reiterating its annual forecast, projecting between 17,200 and 17,800 home completions. The company stated its performance hinges on standard seasonal demand and the forthcoming UK Budget.