British Equities Rise as Consumer Confidence Picks Up

11:48 AM EDT, 09/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- UK shares staged a recovery at the end of the week, with the blue-chip FTSE 100 up 0.14% on Friday's close, as confidence among consumers improved in September. The consumer confidence index surprised on the upside, rising to -13 in the reporting month from -14 in August, figures from market research company Growth from Knowledge showed. Analysts expected the index to drop further to -16. "September continued the gradual recovery seen since April, with consumer confidence rising one point to -13. This marks the first time since summer 2024 that we have seen three consecutive monthly increases in the Overall Index Score," commented GfK consumer insights director Neil Bellamy. "However, the return of higher inflation removes one of the strongest positives seen in previous months. So, while the headline score continues to improve, confidence is still firmly in negative territory. With inflation, energy and fuel prices rising, could we soon see consumer sentiment falter?" On the corporate front, AstraZeneca (AZN.L) gained 0.76% in London at closing after it received priority review designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its supplemental biologics license application for Imfinzi, or durvalumab, plus enfortumab vedotin as a treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The drugmaker said the Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date for the decision is expected in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, BP (BP.L) studied a potential purchase of US oil and gas producer Devon Energy's operations in South Texas, in the US, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the matter. At the end of the trading day, BP shares declined 2.19%. Santander UK (SANB.L) told MT Newswires it is working to fix issues with its mobile banking app "as soon as possible" following reports from users. "We're aware that customers are currently experiencing difficulties accessing some of our banking services. We're very sorry for the inconvenience this is causing." The bank was down 1.19%. In geopolitical news, negotiators from the US and Iran discussed a phased deal that involves the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, Reuters reported, citing sources close to the talks.