![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/A-helicopter-being-unloaded-from-a-Royal-Air-Force-C-17-in-Cyprus.png\")
A volatile week saw the FTSE 100 end the final session with another three-figure fall as oil was sharply higher and UK bond yields rose amid renewed inflation fears.<\/p>\n
Brent\u00a0crude was trading at $92.83 a barrel on Friday evening, up from around $84 in the previous session.<\/p>\n
Kuwait joined Qatar and said that it was halting energy production, as the crisis in the\u00a0Middle East\u00a0deepened.<\/p>\n
Attacks on oilfields were reported in southern Iraq and in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, which forced a US-run oil field to shut production.<\/p>\n
Military action also stepped up with UK helicopters, which have anti-drone-capabilities, along with HMS Dragon, due to arrive Cyprus in the next few weeks. The UK is also sending four additional Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar.<\/p>\n
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Friday the US Navy was preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz \u201cas soon as it\u2019s reasonable to do it\u201d.<\/p>\n
Allan Monks, analyst at JPMorgan said a Bank of England interest rate cut in March is \u201coff the table\u201d and April \u201crequires a clear calming of geopolitical tensions\u201d.\u00a0Barclays\u00a0still expects a 25 basis points cut, although it accepts the decision is on a \u201cknife-edge\u201d.<\/p>\n
Unexpectedly weak job figures in the US contributed to the sell-off in equities. The FTSE 100 index ended 129.19 points (1.2%) lower at 10,284.75. Over the week, the FTSE 100 was down 5.7%.<\/p>\n
Total non-farm payroll employment in the US fell by 92,000 in February, while January\u2019s increase was revised down to 126,000 from 130,000.<\/p>\n
The US unemployment rate increased to 4.4% in February from 4.3% in January, where it had been expected to remain.<\/p>\n
The yield on UK 10-year gilts leapt to 4.61% on Friday from 4.48% on Thursday, having traded at about 4.23% a week ago.<\/p>\n
Fading interest rate hopes hit homebuilder and consumer goods stocks. Barratt Redrow<\/strong> was down 2.6% and Berkeley<\/strong> down 3%, while DIY retailer Kingfisher<\/strong> fell 5.2%.<\/p>\n Martin Brown, managing partner at Continuum Financial Services, said the worst thing investors can do is rush to sell. He said reactionary emotional decisions can take a heavy toll on a portfolio.<\/p>\n \u201cThere have been a series of events over the years \u2013 the pandemic, Black Monday, the dot com boom and bust,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe key thing is to stay calm and to remember these episodes can be short-lived. History tells us that markets bounce back. There is no need to panic if the core of investments in your portfolio is fundamentally strong.\u201d<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n![\"Barratt](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Baratt-Homes.png\")