London stocks fall 1% as geopolitical tensions and economic data loom

Among individual stocks, Experian lost 1.6% after the credit data group agreed to acquire peer illion for up to A$820 million ($542.10 million). Rio Tinto lost 1.3% after shareholders demanded the company come clean on environmental issues.

British equities slid 1% on Friday amid heightened Middle East tensions, while investors braced for the release of key U.S. and UK economic data.

By 0707 GMT, the globally-focussed FTSE 100 had fallen by 1.0%, while the domestic-oriented FTSE 250 was down 0.7%. Both indexes were set to post weekly declines. Oil and gas stocks were the only outliers across the board, rising by 0.3% as crude prices extended gains over escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and tightening supply concerns.

Later in the day, investors will parse UK business activity data for March and the U.S. non-farm payrolls report for fresh insights into the trajectory of interest rates. Among individual stocks, Experian lost 1.6% after the credit data group agreed to acquire peer illion for up to A$820 million ($542.10 million).

Rio Tinto lost 1.3% after shareholders demanded the company come clean on environmental issues.