UK's FTSE 100 slips as losses in energy stocks and AstraZeneca weigh

London's blue-chip FTSE 100 closed slightly lower on Friday, dragged down by losses in heavyweight energy stocks and drugmaker AstraZeneca, while a looming UK public holiday thinned trade.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 ‌index ended ⁠0.1% lower ⁠at 10,363.93 points, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed 0.3%.

AstraZeneca shed 3.1% after a ​U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted against recommending an experimental breast cancer treatment ​the drugmaker has said is central to its long-term growth ambitions.


NatWest reported a 12% rise in first-quarter profit, but its shares fell 3.4% ​after the lender's non-interest income was 7% below ⁠analysts' forecasts.

‌Heavyweight energy stocks Shell and BP were among the ​biggest drags ​on the blue-chip index, tracking weakness in crude oil ⁠prices.

Tehran has submitted its latest proposal for negotiations with ​the United States, but it is unclear whether ​it can break a deadlock in efforts to end the Iran war.

The gainers included Pearson, which rose 3.1% after the education company said demand for its virtual learning products drove a 4% rise in first-quarter underlying group sales.

Consumer staples giant Unilever jumped 2.6% to hit a ‌one-month high, while engineering company Rolls-Royce added 1.5%, extending gains a day after it reiterated its profit outlook.

Spirits maker ​Diageo ended ​0.7% higher. It ⁠had risen by as much as 2.8% after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was removing tariffs on UK-made whisky.

The FTSE 100 clocked marginal ​weekly declines, taking its consecutive weekly losses to a third after mixed corporate earnings this week hit sentiment.

Trading volumes on London exchanges were well below their 20-day moving average, as most markets across Europe were closed on Friday and Britain has a bank holiday on Monday.