FTSE 100 closes lower as oil surges, down 35 points

Published on 10/23/2026 at 22:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

FTSE 100 closes at 10,690 points as Brent hits USD117.23 and weak retail sales cloud the outlook before the October 28 Budget.

Rates and domestic demand

FTSE 100 ended at 10,690 points on October 23, down 35 points or 0.3 percent.
UK retail sales fell 0.4 percent in September against a 0.1 percent decline expected.
BP was the top gainer, rising 4.4 percent as Brent crude moved above USD115.
The UK Autumn Budget is scheduled for October 28, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. London time.

FTSE 100, GB0001383545, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

The FTSE 100 closed on October 23, 2026, down 35 points or 0.3 percent at 10,690 points. Brent crude rose 3.6 percent to USD117.23 as Middle East supply concerns intensified, Reuters reported.

BP led the index higher with a 4.4 percent gain, while Rolls-Royce fell 7.6 percent. The move followed weak UK retail sales and a sharp decline in consumer confidence, Hargreaves Lansdown reported.

Why is the FTSE 100 lower today?

UK retail sales volumes dropped 0.4 percent in September, compared with a 0.1 percent decline expected. Consumer confidence fell 11 points to minus 24 in October. The data added pressure to a market already facing higher energy costs, Reuters reported.

The flash composite purchasing managers' index improved to 53.1 from 52.0, beating the 51.7 forecast. That stronger activity reading did not offset concerns over inflation and the approaching Budget.

Winners and losers in the FTSE 100

FTSE 100 winners and losers at the close, including percentage changes and explanations, were listed by Alliance News:

BP up 4.4 percent: higher oil prices
Ithaca Energy up 3.9 percent: higher oil prices
Shell up 3.7 percent: higher oil prices
Rolls-Royce Holdings down 7.6 percent: weakness after Safran warned on aftermarket growth
Fresnillo down 6.2 percent
Diploma down 5.1 percent

Energy shares rose 3.9 percent, while aerospace and defense shares fell 4.6 percent. Banks declined 0.8 percent and healthcare stocks lost 1.1 percent. The index fell 1.8 percent for the week, ending a two-week winning streak.

FTSE 100 ends 2.0 percent below its record

The index finished 2.0 percent below its record close of 10,911 points, reached on February 27, 2026. It was up 0.8 percent for October and 7.6 percent for the year, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

What comes next for the FTSE 100

The next major scheduled event is the UK Autumn Budget and the Office for Budget Responsibility outlook on October 28, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. London time, Stockopedia reported. BP and Shell are also scheduled to release third-quarter results next week.

FTSE 100 price data for October 23, 2026

The FTSE 100 closed at 10,690 points on October 23, 2026, down 35 points or 0.3 percent from the previous close of 10,725 points, Dow Jones Market Data reported. It opened at 10,725 points and traded between a high of 10,748 points and a low of 10,630 points, finanzen.net reported.

FTSE 100 by the numbers on October 23, 2026

Index: FTSE 100
Home exchange: London Stock Exchange, United Kingdom
Close on October 23, 2026: 10,690 points
Change versus previous close of October 22, 2026: down 35 points (down 0.3 percent)
Previous close: 10,725 points
Open: 10,725 points
Day high / day low: 10,748 points / 10,630 points
Top gainer: BP up 4.4 percent
Top loser: Rolls-Royce Holdings down 7.6 percent
Distance to record high: 2.0 percent (10,911 points on February 27, 2026)
Next scheduled event: October 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. London time: UK Autumn Budget and Office for Budget Responsibility outlook