---
title: "FTSE 100 to open higher, with Middle East tensions weighing on gains"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2026-04-10T06:42:40+00:00"
modified: "2026-04-10T06:45:11+00:00"
date: 2026-04-10
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-to-open-higher-with-middle-east-tensions-weighing-on-gains/"
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-100-23-OCT-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# FTSE 100 to open higher, with Middle East tensions weighing on gains

**Published:** April 10, 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-100-23-OCT-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1)

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London equities are set for a modestly firmer open on Friday, with investors balancing developments in the Middle East—particularly around the Strait of Hormuz—against key U.S. inflation data as the week draws to a close.

Futures indicate a gain of roughly 20 points for the FTSE 100. The index of blue-chip stocks had edged down 0.1% to 10,603.48 in the previous session.

In currency markets, sterling softened slightly, trading at $1.3419 early Friday, down from $1.3437 at the prior London close. Against the euro, the pound dipped to €1.1479 from €1.1484. The euro also weakened marginally to $1.1691, while the dollar strengthened against the yen to ¥159.23.

In commodities, Brent crude rose 0.8% to $96.70 per barrel. Although still below the key $100 level, prices remain elevated enough to keep inflation concerns firmly in focus. Meanwhile, gold prices edged lower to $4,766.21 per ounce, retreating from the previous session’s highs.

Asian markets were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.9%, while China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index both gained 0.7%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2%.

In China, inflation data showed a mixed picture. Consumer prices rose 1.0% year-on-year in March, easing from February and undershooting expectations. However, producer prices returned to growth, rising 0.5% annually after a prior decline.

On Wall Street, U.S. equities closed higher overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both advancing 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbing 0.8%.

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