05.02.202608:55:01UTC+00FTSE 100 Trades Lower Ahead BoE

The FTSE 100 experienced a downturn on Thursday, following a historic high in the previous session. Investor sentiment turned cautious in anticipation of the Bank of England's decision to maintain interest rates at 3.75%. Vodafone emerged as a major decliner, shedding nearly 5% in value after reporting slower-than-anticipated growth in service revenue, although the company did forecast profits at the high end of its expectations. Additionally, Shell's shares decreased by approximately 1.5%, as its quarterly profit slightly underperformed market forecasts. Nevertheless, Shell announced a $3.5 billion share buyback. Anglo American saw its share price fall by about 1% after lowering its 2026 copper production forecast, citing weaker-than-expected output from Chile. Conversely, BT's shares rose by more than 1%, buoyed by a trading update that revealed third-quarter adjusted EBITDA aligned with estimates and reaffirmed the company's confidence in achieving full-year guidance.