The FTSE 100 moved modestly higher on Friday following the previous session’s bond-driven decline, while investors monitored developments involving Iran and awaited U.S. employment data.
The UK benchmark was up 0.10% as of 07:20 GMT. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s DAX gained 0.30% and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.29%.
Sterling was 0.09% higher against the U.S. dollar at $1.3213.
Geopolitical developments remained in focus amid reports of an increased U.S. military presence around Iran. A U.S. official told Al Jazeera that three aircraft carriers and two amphibious groups were being deployed, with the full buildup expected by November.
UK Maritime Trade Operations also reported that a supertanker carrying 2.5 million barrels was struck by an unknown projectile and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The supplied information did not specify when the incident occurred.
Separately, U.S. envoy Mike Waltz told the United Nations Security Council that Iran was enriching uranium to 60%, which he said has “no credible civilian purpose.”
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called for Iran to reach what he described as a “very fair deal, or they won’t exist any longer,” according to Reuters. In a separate speech, Trump said Iran needed to “do something very proper and smart” or it would not “be around very long.”
Reuters also reported that Trump was considering renewed strikes against Iran after the November 3 U.S. midterm elections. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, said Tehran has “never avoided” dialogue, according to Tasnim news agency.
U.S. Payrolls in Focus
Attention was also turning to September’s U.S. employment report.
The consensus forecast is for nonfarm payrolls to increase by 89,000, compared with 162,000 previously. The unemployment rate is expected at 4.1%, while average hourly earnings are forecast to increase 0.3% month-on-month.
According to ING, markets are pricing an October Federal Reserve interest-rate increase as more likely than not.
Eurozone flash inflation data are also due, with ING forecasting headline inflation of 3.3% and core inflation of 2.5%.
Oil Falls While Gold Advances
Oil prices moved lower during the session. Brent December futures declined 1.11% to $101.20 per barrel, while WTI November futures fell 1.76% to $91.25.
Gold moved higher, with December futures gaining 0.27% to $4,214.20 an ounce. Spot gold increased 0.17% to $4,184.41.
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