FTSE 100 Live: Stocks open flat as oil climbs, B&M and Boohoo jump

FTSE 100 opened flat, with the index around the 10,376 level as oil prices climbed and utilities led gains. Among the top performers were United Utilities, SSE, National Grid and Centrica, while miners Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta weighed on sentiment, along with Rolls-Royce, Melrose Industries and Babcock International. Banks faced pressure, with Barclays, HSBC, NatWest and St James’s Place among the fallers, underscoring a cautious early session. Currys announced a leadership change, promoting Fredrik Tønnesen to group chief executive to take the helm on 3 August. The 44-year-old, who currently heads Currys Nordic operations—about 40% of group revenue and a driver of rising profits—will succeed Alex Baldock after more than two decades in the company. In other updates, B&M European Value Retail posted a 38% drop in annual profit to £284 million, while Boohoo Group said first quarter profitability and cash generation improved as the turnaround gained momentum. Markets were also weighing US rate expectations after stronger-than-expected job openings data, suggesting the labour market remains resilient and prompting bets on a possible Fed rate hike.