---
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"
date: 2026-08-07
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-set-for-softer-open-as-investors-await-us-jobs-report/"
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"]
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"
---

# FTSE 100 Set for Softer Open as Investors Await US Jobs Report

**Published:** August 7, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**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)

---

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.

Futures 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.

**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.

Trade 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.

Sterling was broadly steady at **$1.3452**, while the euro traded at $1.1523. The dollar was little changed against the yen at ¥158.36.

In 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.

High Street traffic dropped 3.8%, while retail parks recorded a 1.2% increase. London remained particularly weak, with footfall falling 5.3%.

Wall 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%**.

Asian 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.

China’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%.

Gold continued to strengthen, trading at **$4,275.37 an ounce**, compared with $4,250.01 late Thursday.

Attention 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.

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