FTSE 100

EUR/USD falls amid French political uncertainty, FTSE inches higher after strong Chinese manufacturing data, but UK data disappoints.

FTSE rises as inflation cools to a 3-year low. EUR/USD falls ahead of tomorrow's ECB rate decision.

EUR/USD edges higher ahead of German inflation data and Fed Chair Powell’s speech, but the FTSE 100 falls after Q2 GDP is revised lower.

EUR/USD rises on USD weakness ahead of this week’s Fed meeting. FTSE holds steady ahead of a bumper central bank week.

DAX rises ahead of the ECB rate decision. FTSE 100 rebounds as risk sentiment improves, housebuilders rise.

The FTSE was unable to add to its gains from the day before, after the Bank of England cut rates by 25 basis points in a close decision that, on balance, appeared less dovish than the vote split would have had you believed. A sharp drop in Japanese shares overnight dented investor confidence somewhat, which came hot on the heels of a technology-fuelled rally on Wall Street on Wednesday.

Tech earnings from Microsoft, Apple, Meta and Amazon to set the early tone for UK markets this week before focus the switches to whether the Fed and Bank of England will cut interest rates. Early signals suggest traders want to buy risk.

Interest rates are starting to be cut across the developed world. The combination of lower borrowing costs and positive economic growth should benefit cyclical assets, including stock indices which have lagged during the aggressive rate tightening cycle of recent years. That presents an opportunity for traders.

Disappointing Eurozone data put some pressure on European indices on Thursday morning, following the sizeable rally in Europe and US the day before. This saw major European indices drop sharply this morning, led by a 2% fall in Spain’s Ibex. But the FTSE was holding its own relatively better, as rebounding crude oil helped to fuel a rally in energy stocks.

The FTSE eased off from earlier highs on not-so-dovish BoE hold. The key takeaway point is that there was no pivot, with the BoE warning that there's still some way to go on inflation front. This implies tight policy for longer. GBP/USD extends post FOMC rally as BoE's "finely balanced" decision saw three dissenters voted for 25bps hike.

After hitting a new all-time high in February, the FTSE has struggled to find any sustainable support, hurt by concerns over China, UK’s struggling economy and high interest rates across the world. But we have had some positive data out of China, the UK and US this week, which may mean the worst days are behind us.

The next FTSE index review will take effect later in September. Find out which UK stocks are on the move and why it matters.

The FTSE 100 is hoping to end its longest losing streak since mid-2019 today.

The UK economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, but that is fuelling fears that inflation could remain elevated.

The FTSE 100 is under pressure in the wake of weak economic data out of China, as Glencore dishes out more cash to shareholders despite a tough first half.

Homebuilders are in play as UK house prices remain under pressure, buyers are circling for Haleon’s non-core assets and mining giants are following iron ore prices lower.

London-listed travel stocks are on the rise today as demand remains buoyant, although it isn’t proving enough to stop the FTSE 100 hitting fresh two-week lows.