The FTSE 100 edged higher on Friday, outperforming major European markets. Defensive stocks led gains, with AstraZeneca and GSK rising around 2% each, while Unilever and British American Tobacco advanced roughly 2.5%. Defence group BAE Systems also gained close to 1%. In contrast, mining shares came under heavy pressure, with Rio Tinto falling about 2.8%, Glencore down 3.5%, Anglo American losing 5%, Antofagasta dropping 5.3% and Fresnillo retreating 5.7%. On the data front, Halifax reported that UK house prices slipped 0.1% in May following a similar decline in April, taking the average property price to GBP 298,806. Annual growth for first-time buyers eased to 0.3%, though Halifax said lending conditions are becoming more flexible and housing market activity remains broadly stable. Despite Friday’s gains, the FTSE 100 was down 0.3% for the week.