FTSE Movers Today: Biggest Risers and Fallers
Which FTSE 100 shares jumped or dropped today, and what do the numbers actually say? This page explains the day’s biggest risers and fallers in plain English, every weekday evening. No jargon, no tips, and no guessing: just the facts behind the move.
Today’s movers: Friday 16 October 2026
The quick answer: The FTSE 100 rose 0.38% on Friday 16 October 2026 to close at 10,882. The biggest riser was Babcock International, up 3.6%. The biggest faller was Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, down 3.1%.
The market in one table
| Measure | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|
| FTSE 100 | 10,882 | +0.38% |
| FTSE 250 | 24,534 | +0.45% |
| Pound against the dollar | 1.3311 | +0.61% |
| Gold, per ounce | £3,140 | +0.24% |
| Brent crude oil, per barrel | $109.3 | +3.17% |
Biggest risers
| Company | Closing price | Today | Last month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock International | 961.8p | +3.60% | -5.5% |
| WPP | 412.7p | +3.07% | +6.1% |
| Kingfisher plc | 348.8p | +2.86% | +12.7% |
| Weir | 2,682p | +2.60% | +0.2% |
| BAE Systems | 1,983.5p | +2.59% | -2.9% |
Biggest fallers
| Company | Closing price | Today | Last month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust | 1,545p | -3.13% | +1.7% |
| AstraZeneca | 12,446p | -1.98% | +0.1% |
| Polar Capital Technology Trust | 635p | -1.78% | -3.3% |
| NatWest Group | 666p | -1.19% | -6.6% |
| British Land | 417.4p | -1.18% | +2.6% |
The risers, explained
Babcock International: +3.6% today
What it does: An engineering company that maintains warships, submarines and other defence equipment.
What the numbers say:
- The FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today. Babcock International moved about 9 times as much, so something company or sector specific was at work, not just the market tide.
- It was not alone. BAE Systems also featured among the day’s biggest movers, which often points to a story affecting the whole aerospace & defence sector rather than this company alone.
- Today goes against the recent trend: over the last month the shares had fallen 5.5%.
- At 961.8p the shares sit near the bottom of their 52-week range (871.2p to 1,527p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
WPP: +3.1% today
What it does: One of the world’s largest advertising groups, owning agencies that create ads for big brands.
What the numbers say:
- The FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today. WPP moved about 8 times as much, so something company or sector specific was at work, not just the market tide.
- It was not alone. Autotrader Group also featured among the day’s biggest movers, which often points to a story affecting the whole media sector rather than this company alone.
- Over the last month the shares are up 6.1%, so today extends a strong run.
- At 412.7p the shares sit near the top of their 52-week range (218.5p to 420p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
Kingfisher plc: +2.9% today
What it does: Owns B&Q and Screwfix in the UK and Castorama and Brico Dépôt in France.
What the numbers say:
- The FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today. Kingfisher plc moved about 7 times as much, so something company or sector specific was at work, not just the market tide.
- Over the last month the shares are up 12.7%, so today extends a strong run.
- At 348.8p the shares sit in the middle of their 52-week range (266.4p to 372.3p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
The fallers, explained
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust: -3.1% today
What it does: An investment trust backing fast-growing companies, listed and unlisted, around the world.
What the numbers say:
- It moved against the market: the FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today while Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust went the other way, which usually means company or sector news mattered more than the market mood.
- At 1,545p the shares sit in the middle of their 52-week range (1,015.7p to 1,652.5p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
AstraZeneca: -2.0% today
What it does: One of the world’s largest drug makers, focused on cancer, heart and lung medicines.
What the numbers say:
- It moved against the market: the FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today while AstraZeneca went the other way, which usually means company or sector news mattered more than the market mood.
- At 12,446p the shares sit in the middle of their 52-week range (9,892p to 15,732p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
Polar Capital Technology Trust: -1.8% today
What it does: An investment trust focused on technology shares around the world.
What the numbers say:
- It moved against the market: the FTSE 100 rose 0.4% today while Polar Capital Technology Trust went the other way, which usually means company or sector news mattered more than the market mood.
- Over the last month the shares are down 3.3%, so today continues a weak run.
- At 635p the shares sit in the middle of their 52-week range (420p to 771.8p).
Explaining a move is not a tip. This page never recommends buying or selling shares.
Prices are closing prices from Yahoo Finance for 16 October 2026. This page was updated on 16 October 2026, 18:15 London time.
How this page works
Every weekday evening, after the London stock market closes, we take the five FTSE 100 shares that rose the most and the five that fell the most, and we explain the move in plain English using the numbers: how the share did against the market, against its own recent trend, and against other companies in its sector. We do not guess at causes we cannot verify, and we never tip shares. If a move was very large, we say plainly that it usually follows company news and we point you to the company’s own announcements.
Why share prices move on a single day
Share prices move when buyers and sellers change their minds about what a company is worth. On any one day, the push usually comes from one of four places. Company news, such as results, a new contract or a warning about profits. Sector news, where a price change or a headline lifts or hits a whole group at once, like miners moving with metal prices. Market mood, where the whole market rises or falls on economic news and individual shares are carried along. And expectations, where investors reposition ahead of events like the Budget or an interest rate decision. A single day’s move, up or down, is mostly noise for a long-term investor. What matters is the trend over months and the health of the company underneath.
Thinking of investing? Read these first
If you are new to investing, most people start with funds that spread money across many companies rather than picking single shares. Our guide to global index funds explains how that works, our best trading platforms for the UK page compares where to open an account, and our UK Markets Daily page rounds up the market every weekday. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you could get back less than you put in. This page is information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are FTSE 100 risers and fallers?
They are the shares in the FTSE 100 index of the UK’s largest listed companies that gained or lost the most in percentage terms on a given trading day. This page lists the top five of each, every weekday evening, with a plain-English explanation of the numbers.
Why did a share price move today?
Usually because of company news, sector news, the wider market mood, or investors repositioning ahead of an event. This page shows you which pattern fits the numbers: whether the share moved with the market, against it, or alongside its sector. For the exact announcement behind a big move, check the company’s stock exchange announcements.
Is a top riser a good buy?
Not necessarily, and this page will never tell you to buy anything. A share that jumped today may have been recovering from a fall, reacting to one piece of news, or simply having a volatile day. Chasing one-day moves is one of the most common ways beginners lose money. Long-term results depend on the company’s profits over years, not on a single day.
How often is this page updated?
Every weekday evening after the London market closes at 4.30pm, using closing prices from Yahoo Finance. It is not updated at weekends or on UK market holidays, when the previous trading day’s figures stay in place.