Why did the FTSE 100 decline on Friday, and which specific stocks were the main contributors?

The FTSE 100 declined 0.1% to 10,363.93 points on Friday, primarily dragged down by losses in heavyweight energy stocks Shell and BP—tracking weakness in crude oil prices—and a 3.1% drop in AstraZeneca shares after a U.S. FDA advisory panel voted against recommending its experimental breast cancer treatment, which the company has described as central to its long-term growth ambitions.

What were the key positive performers on the FTSE that day, and what drove their gains?

Pearson rose 3.1% after reporting a 4% rise in first-quarter underlying group sales driven by demand for its virtual learning products; Unilever jumped 2.6% to a one-month high; Rolls-Royce added 1.5%, extending gains after reiterating its profit outlook; and Diageo ended 0.7% higher, having risen as much as 2.8% following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was removing tariffs on UK-made whisky.

FTSE 100 Slips as Energy Stocks and AstraZeneca Weigh

May 1, 2026

The FTSE 100 closed 0.1% lower, weighed down by energy giants Shell and BP tracking crude oil weakness, while AstraZeneca shares dropped 3.1% following an FDA advisory panel vote against its experimental breast cancer treatment.

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