Geopolitical Escalation in Strait of Hormuz Pressures FTSE 100

The FTSE 100 declined for the fifth consecutive session on Friday, reflecting growing investor anxiety over escalating military tensions in the Middle East. The benchmark index fell 0.29%, or 29.91 points, to trade at 10,427.10, having dipped as low as 10,365.07 during the session. The downturn is primarily driven by a volatile security situation in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a directive to the Navy to use lethal force against any vessels deploying mines in the strategic waterway. This escalation coincides with reports that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has withdrawn from negotiations with the U.S., signaling a pivot toward a more hardline stance within Tehran's leadership. On the corporate front, Mondi saw its shares tumble more than 7% following a disappointing first-quarter report. The packaging group's underlying EBITDA, including forestry fair value, dropped to €212 million, a significant decrease from the €290 million reported in the comparable quarter last year. While mining and banking sectors were among the notable losers, some retail and consumer names provided a partial cushion. J Sainsbury advanced 1.5% following the announcement of a share buyback program valued at up to £300 million, and British American Tobacco climbed 3.3%. Despite these isolated gains, the overarching geopolitical risk continues to weigh heavily on risk appetite across the London market.