The FTSE 100 was expected to open 19.9 points lower on Friday after wrapping up the previous session 0.55% higher at 8,823.20.

Drugmaker said on Friday that its Imfinzi asset has been approved in the EU as the first and only perioperative immunotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. AZN said the approval was based on Phase III trial results, which showed a 32% reduction in the risk of recurrence and a 25% reduction in the risk of death versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.

Hydrogen power generation firm said on Friday that it has formed a joint venture with British chemical manufacturing and distribution company Industrial Chemicals Group. AFC said the 50/50 JV will produce hydrogen using its proprietary, leading ammonia cracking technology. Initial revenues were expected in early 2026.

Ed Miliband has unveiled plans to make it easier for homeowners to install wind turbines in their gardens as part of a mass expansion of green power. The Energy Secretary has announced a consultation on relaxing planning rules governing the construction of turbines on residential and commercial properties. – Telegraph

British electric car sales rose by a third in the first half of 2025 after the strongest June for overall car sales since before the Covid pandemic. The number of battery electric car sales rose 34.6% to 224,838 units in the first six months of the year, according to preliminary data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a lobby group. – Guardian

Ministers are closely watching a court case in which is alleged to have “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of franchise operators, and have raised the prospect of a regulatory crackdown on the sector. The small business minister, Gareth Thomas, has said he will "track very carefully" a £120.0m legal claim brought against Vodafone last year by a group of 62 of about 150 franchise operators. – Guardian

A European insurance company owned by and headed by the former boss Mike Wells has clinched the biggest UK deal of the year so far, snapping up for £5.7bn. Athora, an insurer with assets of €76.0bn and operations across Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, announced it had successfully landed privately-owned PIC, which specialises in taking over legacy pension schemes from UK employers. – The Times

The FTSE 100 supplier to a British oil refinery was not brought into discussions about securing its future until shortly before it collapsed into insolvency. , the mining and commodity trading group, was only informed of the financial difficulties at the Prax Lindsey oil refinery three days before it collapsed despite ministers being aware of the difficulties for several months, sources told The Times. – The Times

US stocks rose strongly on Thursday with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both notching new record highs ahead of the long weekend after key labour market data came in well ahead of forecasts.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.77% at 44,828.53, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.83% to a new record close of 6,279.35 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 1.02% firmer at a new high of 20,601.10.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com