Source: Sharecast
The FTSE 100 ended down 0.4% at 9,717.25.
Patrick Munnelly at Tickmill Group said: "With no fresh economic data or earnings reports to energise the market, investors are adopting a cautious stance. Many are trimming their positions, wary of potential pitfalls ahead. The atmosphere is tense, as traders reassess their strategies amidst growing uncertainty. Market sentiment is decidedly jittery, and all eyes are on upcoming developments that could shift the tides.
"Will new economic indicators or corporate earnings reports provide the spark needed to revive confidence? Only time will tell, but for now, the FTSE 100 is feeling the pressure.
"The Bank of England's November rate decision could be compelling for markets, as it may end the trend of quarterly cuts, but the outcome appears finely balanced. Gilt yields and the value of sterling have decreased following indications that UK inflation may have peaked. Additionally, speculation around the budget is intensifying, with rumours of more significant downgrades from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) regarding productivity. Meanwhile, delays in US data have shifted attention to the upcoming ADP and ISM releases for insights into the labour market."
Investors spent the day mulling the latest quarterly results from US tech giants Apple and Amazon.
On home shores, meanwhile, figures from Nationwide showed that house price growth eased a little in October.
Prices were up 0.3% on the month, down from 0.5% growth in September. On the year, however, house prices rose 2.4%, up from 2.2% the month before.
The average price of a home stood at £272,226 in October, up from £271,995 a month earlier.
Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said: "The housing market has remained broadly stable in recent months, with house prices rising at a modest pace and the number of mortgages approved for house purchase maintained at similar levels to those prevailing before the pandemic struck.
"Against a backdrop of subdued consumer confidence and signs of weakening in the labour market, this performance indicates resilience, especially since mortgage rates are more than double the level they were before Covid struck and house prices are close to all-time highs.
"Looking forward, housing affordability is likely to improve modestly if income growth continues to outpace house price growth as we expect. Borrowing costs are also likely to moderate a little further if Bank Rate is lowered again in the coming quarters.
"This should support buyer demand, especially since household balance sheets are strong - indeed, in aggregate the ratio of household debt to disposable income is at its lowest for two decades."
There wasn’t much happening on the corporate front, but WPP fell sharply again, having tumbled on Thursday as it warned on profits due to a slump in revenue and said it had launched a strategic review, with new boss Cindy Rose describing the advertising firm's performance as "unacceptable".
Auto Trader skidded as it said Catherine Faiers was stepping down as chief operating officer. Faiers will be joining online gifts and greeting card retailer Moonpig as its new chief executive.
Precious metals miner Fresnillo fell after saying it has agreed to buy Canadian exploration company Probe for about CAD $780m (£424m) in an all-cash deal.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 9,717.25 -0.44%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 22,170.97 -0.47%
techMARK (TASX) 5,618.88 0.07%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,405.00p 2.78%
Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) 44.15p 2.08%
BT Group (BT.A) 185.75p 1.28%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,203.00p 1.08%
Diageo (DGE) 1,750.00p 0.98%
Haleon (HLN) 354.10p 0.94%
easyJet (EZJ) 484.50p 0.92%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 92.14p 0.90%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,839.00p 0.88%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 417.90p 0.82%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
WPP (WPP) 287.50p -4.96%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 780.40p -3.51%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,237.50p -3.32%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 9,192.00p -2.30%
Whitbread (WTB) 2,897.00p -2.29%
Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,375.00p -2.07%
Barratt Redrow (BTRW) 376.30p -2.03%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 93.18p -1.92%
Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 2,746.00p -1.89%
Flutter Entertainment (DI) (FLTR) 17,535.00p -1.85%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Anglo-Eastern Plantations (AEP) 1,400.00p 6.46%
W.A.G Payment Solutions (EWG) 95.60p 3.46%
Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 615.00p 1.68%
International Public Partnerships Ltd. (INPP) 126.40p 1.61%
NCC Group (NCC) 149.40p 1.49%
Energean (ENOG) 964.00p 1.42%
Pinewood Technologies Group (PINE) 368.50p 1.38%
Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited (SEQI) 77.80p 1.30%
Lion Finance Group (BGEO) 8,005.00p 1.20%
CMC Markets (CMCX) 215.50p 1.17%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 268.20p -7.64%
Frasers Group (FRAS) 729.00p -4.02%
Playtech (PTEC) 263.50p -3.83%
Drax Group (DRX) 721.50p -3.61%
Vistry Group (VTY) 646.20p -3.01%
International Workplace Group (IWG) 226.40p -2.92%
Morgan Advanced Materials (MGAM) 204.00p -2.86%
Greggs (GRG) 1,613.00p -2.77%
Quilter (QLT) 181.80p -2.52%
Marshalls (MSLH) 168.80p -2.43%