FTSE 100 today: Stocks slip as UK retail sales miss, oil hits five-month high

British stocks fell on Friday as a larger-than-expected drop in UK retail sales and oil’s climb to a five-month high on US-Iran war fears weighed on sentiment.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.33%, as of 03:42 ET (07:42 GMT). Germany’s DAX lost 0.57% and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.76%. Sterling slipped 0.12% to $1.3377.

UK retail sales volumes fell 0.4% in September, more than the 0.1% drop expected. Warm weather hit online clothing and supermarket volumes fell. Three-month volumes rose 0.7% and fuel volumes rose 2.2%. 

A survey showed October consumer confidence fell by the most since early in the pandemic, ahead of next week’s budget from finance minister John Healey.  

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called U.S.-Israel military ties "parasitic" on social media platform X, claiming Washington spent "$11 BILLION" on missile defence for Israel. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled more strikes, saying the U.S. has knocked the "hell out" of Iran. 

The conflict is nearing its eighth month, with diplomacy stalled and both sides trading threats. U.S. Central Command says its naval blockade of Iran has now run for 100 days, and Washington has ordered some diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi missile and drone attacks on the kingdom continue. 

Media reports say the United States and Israel are weighing fresh strikes on Iran in the coming weeks, and Trump has indicated a decision could come soon. 

Moscow has reportedly offered to mediate nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visiting Tehran on Oct. 19, but no breakthrough has been reported. 

Brent December futures rose 0.80% to $114 and WTI rose 1% to $100.45. Gold December futures fell 0.64% to $4,034.55, while spot gold slipped 0.08% to $4,020.30.