London, July 9, 2026, 14:01 BST
- FTSE 100 slipped 0.61% to 10,424.59 in delayed trading at 13:48 BST, while the FTSE 250 was up.
- AstraZeneca weighed on the index after Wainua did not hit its main target in a late-stage heart disease trial.
- Computacenter, mining stocks and Playtech kept losses in check. Oil prices and Middle East worries remained in focus.
FTSE 100 finished lower Thursday, weighed down by AstraZeneca after the pharma giant missed on a key late-stage trial. That left the London blue-chip index trailing gains seen in the rest of Europe.
The blue-chip index, which tracks the 100 largest London-listed firms by market cap, dropped 0.61% to 10,424.59 at 13:48 BST, according to delayed data. The day’s range ran from 10,397.48 to 10,539.47. Google Finance data showed the FTSE 250 mid-cap index ahead 0.28%, showing a mixed session rather than a larger London selloff.
This is moving the UK market now, with one of its largest stocks hit by bad news and new Middle East tensions making oil and bonds volatile. The FTSE 100 was down 0.6% at 10,417.63 as of 1045 GMT, according to Reuters. The FTSE 250 edged up 0.1%.
AstraZeneca shares dropped almost 10% at one stage, hitting their weakest level since November. The slide came after AstraZeneca and Ionis said Wainua did not hit its main target of lowering cardiovascular deaths and repeat heart problems in people with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy, which is a rare heart disease. Reuters reported the move erased up to £23.3 billion, or $31.21 billion, from AstraZeneca’s market cap at the session low.
The setback landed hard because Wainua was seen as a key program for AstraZeneca’s $80 billion revenue target by 2030 and its pipeline of new medicines. BofA’s Sachin Jain called the outcome “a surprise,” noting investors hadn’t been focused on the risk of missing the main endpoint given data from Alnylam’s Amvuttra. Reuters
AstraZeneca moved to limit the fallout. Sharon Barr, executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said the trial missed its main goal, but argued the results add to “greater scientific understanding” of how to treat the progressive condition. The company will look at the full data set and plans to present details at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in August. AstraZeneca
Ionis shares dropped in U.S. premarket after a competitive update, Reuters said. Alnylam and BridgeBio, both with approved drugs for this heart condition, gained 11% to 16%. Pfizer’s Vyndaqel is also on the market for this indication.
London saw some rebound. Computacenter shares surged after it said first-half adjusted profit before tax should be about twice last year’s £81.5 million, lifted by a strong second quarter, higher hyperscale demand in North America, and more AI work in the UK. The group expects full-year results to be “comfortably ahead” of market forecasts. Investegate
Playtech topped the mid-cap gainers after the gambling tech group guided to at least €270 million in adjusted EBITDA for 2026. That’s above the €219 million analyst consensus. CEO Mor Weizer pointed to stronger first-half numbers on good momentum in regulated markets, mainly in the Americas and through its tie-up with Hard Rock Digital.
Miners provided a lift to the FTSE. Reuters reported precious-metal miners added 2.6% with gold prices up. Hargreaves Lansdown data put Glencore, Anglo American, Antofagasta, Endeavour Mining, Fresnillo and Rio Tinto among the best FTSE 100 performers.
The UK trailed Europe early. The STOXX 600 was up 0.5% by 0816 GMT, according to Reuters, led by tech and basic resources stocks. Fiona Cincotta at City Index said AI news was helping the mood but U.S.-Iran worries were still in play.
Oil is still the main risk. Reuters reported Brent crude gained as U.S.-Iran tensions grew again, putting pressure on peace talks and focusing traders on the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil and LNG. Another oil rally could stoke inflation fears, push up bond yields, and weigh on UK names like housebuilders, retail and real estate.
London’s top index is lagging today, mainly because of a slide in one major drug stock. Mid-caps, miners, and a few company upgrades are helping limit losses. Investors are watching the close to see if AstraZeneca’s drop is just a blip for the stock or if it drives global funds to cut back on UK blue chips.
