The FTSE 100 was hit once again by negative undertones from US tech shares on Friday after another sharp selloff overnight.

The NASDAQ closed down 1.9% as investors sold out of US technology names amid questions about an AI bubble. Tesla was heavily hit, while Palantir had another session to forget.

The FTSE 100 had displayed some resilience earlier in the week and shrugged off weakness in the US. But this resilience ebbed on Friday, and the index was down around 0.6% shortly after midday.

Although concerns about the frothy AI valuations are playing out in markets this week, many still believe in the sector’s long-term opportunity, especially given the sheer level of revenue it generates. The makeup of the market is very different from that of the Dotcom boom, and analysts are suggesting the current dip is a buying opportunity.

“For those brave enough to stomach market gyrations, that could present opportunities,” said Derren Nathan, head of equity research, Hargreaves Lansdown.

“Qualcomm was the latest tech name to provide evidence that demand for semiconductors remains robust. The chip designer beat forecasts for the fourth quarter, with guidance also topping estimates. It’s not been a frontrunner in the AI race but is refocussing its attention on the space. 

“CEO Cristiano Amon thinks the AI opportunity may be underestimated despite the wall of cash being deployed in the build out.”

Away from the US AI trade, the FTSE 100 had its fair share of worrying corporate updates on Friday.

Rightmove was the FTSE 100’s top faller after signalling slower growth in the year ahead amid investment in AI.

“The market did not like Rightmove’s latest update one bit as it warned of slower profit growth in 2026,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

“This is a function of a big increase in investment, largely in artificial intelligence. Investing for future growth is not a bad thing but the scale of the market’s negative reaction implies real scepticism about its decision to put so much money into AI.

“In the longer term Rightmove suggests this expenditure will drive double-digit underlying profit growth, however, the market is far from convinced by this jam tomorrow story.”

Rightmove shares were down 12% at the time of writing, and one must wonder whether the negative reaction would have been as severe if its news of an AI investment hadn’t been released against a backdrop of concerns in the US.

IAG shares also descended sharply, losing 8%, after reporting flat revenues in Q3 compared to the same period last year.

“When a share price rallies 88% in six months, it makes itself vulnerable to the bad news hunters,” said Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at IG.

“Such has been IAG’s fate this morning, dropping sharply after its results showed weakness in the key US business. This is unlikely to spark a rerun of March & April’s losses, but a recovery in this area will be the element to watch in the next few updates, if the shares are to resume their dizzying ascent.”

In an age where technology is woven into every corner of modern life, Innovative Eyewear, Inc. (NASDAQ: LUCY) has carved out a remarkable niche blending fashion, function, and AI into the everyday accessory we wear most often: our glasses.

From its flagship Lucyd brand to its licensed collections with Nautica, Reebok, and Eddie Bauer, the Miami-based company is building the world’s most approachable, stylish, and affordable smart eyewear ecosystem.

The Tekcapital portfolio company is also creating a new market with its breakthrough safety smart eyewear, which addresses real pain points in industrial use cases.

A vision for connection without compromise

Unlike many of its competitors chasing camera-equipped frames, Innovative Eyewear has taken a refreshingly human-centered approach: keeping customers connected through voice, not video. Every Lucyd frame integrates AI voice assistants, Bluetooth audio, and ChatGPT functionality, but intentionally leaves out the camera, a decision rooted in privacy, ergonomics, and design sensibility.

“Cameras add bulk, shorten battery life, and raise privacy concerns,” says CEO Harrison Gross. “Our customers want to stay connected, not surveilled.”

The result? Lightweight eyewear with up to 12 hours of battery life, available in 38 ergonomic styles that look, feel, and weigh remarkably similar to designer fashion eyewear.

Industry firsts that redefined the category

Since its founding in 2019, Innovative Eyewear has amassed over 115 patents and applications and a string of category-defining firsts that have made it easily the most inventive player in its field. Among its milestones:

• First smartglasses with ChatGPT voice access, via the Lucyd app
• First true spring hinges and titanium-front frames for smart eyewear
• First rimless smart eyewear, introduced under the Eddie Bauer Powered by Lucyd® line
• First smart eyewear with built-in walkie-talkie functionality to enable all-day collaboration amongst a customer-defined group of users.
• Best stereo sound quality of any smart eyewear with custom designed speakers and digital signal processors.

Each innovation has reinforced Innovative Eyewear’s reputation as the fashion-first, ergonomic alternative in a market crowded by clunky, camera-laden headsets.

Lucyd Armor®: The smart safety revolution

The company’s latest triumph, Lucyd Armor®, proves that smart eyewear isn’t just for tech enthusiasts; it’s for workers on the front lines of logistics, construction, and industrial safety. Since debuting in October 2024, the line has become Innovative Eyewear’s top seller, merging ANSI-certified protection with real-time communication and AI access.

The newest Armor variants, Green Mirror, Black, Slim, and Vantage, expand the line to fit diverse faces and tasks, all prescription-ready and available through Lucyd.co

Gross calls the upgrade “like switching from a screwdriver to a power drill.” Workers can talk, stream, and query ChatGPT hands-free for a safer, more ergonomic, and more practical than using handheld radios to communicate with co-workers.

And the market is massive: the North American and European the safety eyewear sector exceeded $2.5 billion in 2024, and it’s still growing and that’s before the intoduction of smart safety eyewear.

Fashion meets function

What truly sets Innovative Eyewear apart is its fusion of couture design with connected functionality. Each collection, from the coastal chic Nautica Powered by Lucyd® line to the performance-ready Reebok edition, balances timeless aesthetics with leading-edge tech.

The company’s focus on comfort, prescription adaptability, and affordability ensures smart eyewear isn’t a gadget, it’s a lifestyle accessory upgrade. Whether at work or play, customers can “Upgrade Their Eyewear®” without sacrificing looks, practicality or incurring additional expense. Innovative Eyewear’s products cost roughly the same as traditional designer eyewear.

A platform, not just a product

The Lucyd app, launched in 2023, is a terrific enhancement. It enables users to speak directly to ChatGPT hands-free and hear instant responses, effectively turning every Lucyd frame into a wearable AI assistant. The app’s “Walkie” feature, already adopted by a top-five global logistics firm, allows teams to stay connected seamlessly through voice commands.

This combination of hardware, software, and style positions Innovative Eyewear as a true platform company in the emerging “smart eyewear” economy.

With the Lucyd Armor Vantage launching in early 2026, global safety certifications expanding, and new fashion variants in the pipeline, Innovative Eyewear is steadily executing on a bold vision: making AI eyewear as universal as the smartphone while correcting and protecting your vision.

In a market where others chase the next sci-fi gimmick, Innovative Eyewear keeps its focus clear, human comfort, digital connection, and everyday elegance.

Or, as Gross puts it: “We’re not trying to put a computer on your face. We’re giving your eyewear superpowers.”

ITV shares soared on Friday after the group confirmed it had been approached by Sky with an offer to buy its media and entertainment arm for an enterprise value of £1.6bn.

The bid comes shortly after Liberty Global sold half of its stake in ITV, effectively clearing the way for a bid for all or part of ITV.

ITV shares soared 18% in early trade on Friday. Although shares spiked higher, ITV is only trading at levels seen in early October.

Nick Purves, Fund Manager at Temple Bar Investment Trust, previously argued on a UK Investor Magazine virtual presentation that ITV’s sum of its parts is worth far more than the value attributed to the group as a whole.

It appears that major players in the industry share this view, with Sky the first to make a move for the broadcasting arm. Talkover speculation has swirled around ITV for years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if other parties throw their hat in the ring.

The reported £1.6bn enterprise value seems a little low, given that the M&E business recorded £250m EBITA in 2024.

One would expect this to rumble on.

The FTSE 100 recovered losses on Thursday after the Bank of England left interest rates at 4%, as expected.

London’s leading index started the day positive, but the gains quickly turned to losses, and the FTSE 100 was trading down around 0.35% heading into the Bank of England’s interest rate decision.

However, the FTSE 100 popped higher in the wake of the interest rate decision, with the 9 voters split 5:4 in favour of keeping rates unchanged. Such a tight vote suggests that the Bank of England will cut rates at its next meeting, which has fired up the equity bulls.

“With economic growth stagnating and cracks appearing in the jobs market it seems only a matter of time before the next interest rate cut arrives,” said Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley.

Beyond the Bank of England’s rate decision, it was a busy day for FTSE 100 corporate updates with BT, AstraZeneca, Hikma, Smith & Nephew, Sainsbury’s, and Diageo reporting results.

It was a bloodbath for some.

Hikma and Smith & Nephew were both down around 10% after delivering disappointing results.

Investors dumped Hikma after the pharma group reduced its profit guidance to $730m to $750m from $730m to $770m amid increased competition and supply chain issues.

Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew felt the market’s wrath after missing estimates. Following a strong run since the April lows, Smith & Nephew was vulnerable to a pullback, and investors took the opportunity to book profits on Thursday.

“A slight miss to expected revenue growth amid weakness in its US knee implants business has put Smith & Nephew in the hospital ward,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

“Smith & Nephew is a turnaround story, and it was finally gaining traction after a long wait. However, today’s update might leave investors worried the recovery efforts are running out of steam.”

BT had a positive reaction to its half-year results, with investors focusing on a 2% dividend increase and looking past falling revenues. BT shares were 4% higher at the time of writing.

“Cash flow was the real disappointment, falling well short as spending and some other moving parts weighed more than expected,” explained Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown

“Expectations were low, and early trading suggests markets are taking a glass-half-full approach, but this update still feels softer than hoped.”

Diageo

Diageo shares fell by more than 4% after cutting its forecast amid continued growth woes. China is now proving to be a soft spot for the drinks giant that can’t seem to catch a break.

Adam Vettese, market analyst for eToro, said: “Diageo’s latest update reveals a somewhat concerning outlook with some signs of resilience but also significant headwinds, and a cut in forecast being the main talking point.”

“While there was a steady performance in Europe, the slowdown in the US and China poses a real challenge. The impact of elevated living costs is visible, with US consumers spending more but buying less. This is weighing heavily on premium spirits demand and profitability, as well as stiff competition in the tequila space.”

AstraZeneca shares were largely flat following the release of Q3 earnings, which showed 11% revenue growth.