Executive Summary
The FTSE 100 rose 1.3% for the week ended July 24, 2026, closing at 10,736.23. The index moved higher on three of five sessions, with the largest daily gain of 1.24% on July 22 and a 0.91% advance on the final day. It finished the period above the prior Friday close of 10,600.37 despite intraday volatility tied to commodity prices and domestic data releases.
Weekly Drivers
- UK retail sales rose 1% in June, exceeding expectations for a decline.
- S&P Global PMI data indicated a return to expansion in UK business activity.
- Financial and industrial names such as RELX and Rolls-Royce posted notable gains.
- Energy stocks including Shell and BP declined more than 1% as oil prices eased.
- Reckitt Benckiser rose after announcing the sale of its Russian hygiene business.
Sectors & Breadth
Financials and select industrials led advances, while energy lagged on the week. Most other sectors posted modest gains, contributing to reasonably broad participation rather than concentration in a handful of names. The index's international revenue exposure helped offset softer domestic sentiment in some areas.
What to Watch
- Earnings reports from FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies scheduled for the week commencing July 27.
- Any updates on UK macroeconomic data releases or Bank of England commentary.
- Movements in oil prices and their impact on energy constituents.
Capital-Flow Context
The FTSE 100's heavy weighting toward internationally focused companies continues to attract attention from global allocators sensitive to sterling movements and relative valuations versus other European markets. Recent periods have shown signs of stabilizing or modestly improving foreign positioning in UK equities, though specific weekly flow data for the period remain limited. Passive inflows tied to index-tracking products provide a steady baseline of support.