{"id":139269,"title":"FTSE 100 Set for Softer Open as Investors Await US Jobs Report","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-07T06:37:23+00:00","modified":"2026-08-07T06:37:23+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-for-softer-open-as-investors-await-us-jobs-report/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-for-softer-open-as-investors-await-us-jobs-report.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-for-softer-open-as-investors-await-us-jobs-report.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["Asia","Bangkok","Denmark","Endeavour Mining","Fed","Federal Reserve","Finland","FRANCE","FTSE 100","GERMANY","Glencore","Greenland plan","Hong kong","Japan","London","Manila","mining stocks","Mumbai","Nasdaq Composite","NATO alliance","Netherlands","Nikkei 225","Norway","S&P 500","shanghai","Singapore","Sweden","Sydney","Taiwan","UK","United States","Wall Street","Wellington"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FTSE-100-31-oct-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C900&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"The **FTSE 100** is expected to open marginally lower on Friday as investors weigh fresh US trade measures, rising oil prices and the prospect of market-moving US employment data later in the session.\n\nFutures indicate London’s blue-chip index will open around **10 points, or 0.1%, lower at 10,855.89**, after closing 0.2% down at 10,867.89 on Thursday.\n\n**Brent crude** strengthened to **$83.71 a barrel**, up from $81.74 late Thursday, potentially adding renewed inflationary pressure after recent volatility in energy markets.\n\nTrade policy also returned to focus after US President **Donald Trump** signed an order imposing tariffs on polysilicon imports. The material is an important component in semiconductor and solar-panel manufacturing, with the White House seeking to encourage more of the supply chain to move to the US.\n\nSterling was broadly steady at **$1.3452**, while the euro traded at $1.1523. The dollar was little changed against the yen at ¥158.36.\n\nIn the UK, retail footfall remained weak but showed signs of improvement. British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data showed total footfall fell **2.1% year-on-year in July**, compared with a 3.4% decline in June.\n\nHigh Street traffic dropped 3.8%, while retail parks recorded a 1.2% increase. London remained particularly weak, with footfall falling 5.3%.\n\nWall Street provided a subdued lead overnight. The **Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9%**, while the **S&P 500 declined 0.2%** and the **Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1%**.\n\nAsian markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% after household spending unexpectedly dropped 3.3% year-on-year in June. China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.8%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged 0.1% higher.\n\nChina’s trade surplus narrowed to **$112.50 billion in July** from $125.62 billion in June, although it remained ahead of market expectations. Exports increased 24% year-on-year while imports rose 27.5%.\n\nGold continued to strengthen, trading at **$4,275.37 an ounce**, compared with $4,250.01 late Thursday.\n\nAttention will now turn firmly towards the **US jobs report**, with nonfarm payrolls and unemployment figures likely to influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision."}