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353 stories mentioning FTSE 100Updated 2d ago

The UK benchmark swung on US-Iran peace-framework developments, ending one week up 1.63% but later closing 0.39% lower as a 60-day deal awaited signing.

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Equities

UK Boosts Energy Security Measures Following Iran-linked Cyber Attack

The UK government advised energy company executives on measures to strengthen cyber defenses following reports that Iran-linked hackers forced a small British power generator offline for four days, Reuters reported MondayEnergy Minister Michael Shanks said in a post on X that the government and industry were working with regulators and the National Cyber Security ⁠Centre to bolster protection. He stressed that the incident posed no risk to the wider electricity grid and caused no loss of power.Shanks added that the affected facility was very small compared with a conventional power plant.

FTSE 100
Asia Markets

UK Shares Gain as Business Activity, Consumer Confidence Improve

British shares ended the week higher, with the blue-chip FTSE 100 index up 0.57% at closing on Friday, as investors assessed a fresh batch of UK economic data.S&P Global Market Intelligence data showed the flash UK Composite PMI Output Index rose to a four-month high of 52.5 in August from 52.2 in July, above the consensus of 51.6. The services PMI increased during the month, while the manufacturing index fell."The UK economy picked up a bit more pace in August, adding to signs that we should see solid economic growth of around 0.3% in the third quarter. The expansion is being helped by sunny weather and tech investment, though as expected we have seen some softening of growth in the manufacturing sector as precautionary stock building cools. This reflects easing concerns, for now, over the economic impact of the war in the Middle East. ... The data suggest the Bank of England looks likely to keep a hawkish bias but will stay cautious, holding off any rate hikes until the growth and inflation trajectories become clearer," S&P Global Market Intelligence Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said.UK consumer confidence also improved more than expected in August, with the GfK Consumer Confidence Index rising to -14 from -17 in July, beating the consensus of -18, according to market research company Growth from Knowledge."There is increased optimism looking ahead to the next 12 months for personal finances (up three points to 4) and more people also think now is a good time to make a major purchase (up five points to -7, the highest since December 2021). There is similar optimism on economic prospects over the next 12 months. While still deep in negative territory, this measure is up five points to -23, the best since August 2024, shortly after Keir Starmer took office," GfK Consumer Insights Director Neil Bellamy said.Separately, data from the UK's Office for National Statistics showed that monthly retail sales declined 0.5% in July after a revised 0.7% growth in the previous month. Public sector net borrowing, excluding public sector banks, fell to 1.8 billion pounds in July from a revised 12.8 billion pounds earlier, the ONS said.Looking ahead to next week, investors will focus on the next batch of UK economic data, including the CBI's distributive trades survey and Nationwide's August house price index, alongside July car production figures.On the corporate front, Standard Life (SDLF.L) secured an investment commitment of up to 200 million pounds sterling from its shareholder MS&AD Insurance Group for a planned UK pension-risk transfer partnership with financial institutions and asset managers, including CVC Capital Partners, Prudential Financial, and Goldman Sachs Group. At closing, shares of the British life insurance group rose 1.04%.

FTSE 100$SDLF.L
International

S&P Global: UK Flash Composite PMI Rises to Four-month High in August

Britain's private sector output growth accelerated in August, with the sustained increase in service sector business activity offsetting a slowdown in manufacturing production, flash data from S&P Global showed Friday.The flash UK PMI Composite Output Index hit a four-month high of 52.5 in August, compared with 52.2 in the previous month and the consensus of 51.6.Meanwhile, the manufacturing PMI declined to a five-month low of 51.5 from the prior 51.9 and the expected 51.6. On the services side, the PMI came in at 52.8, against the previous 52.1 and the market forecast of 51.8.

FTSE 100
International

UK Public Sector Net Borrowing Declines in July

Public sector net borrowing in the UK, excluding public sector banks, stood at 1.8 billion pounds sterling in July, down from the revised 12.8 billion pounds sterling earlier, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Friday.

FTSE 100
International

UK's Monthly Retail Sales Fall 0.5% in July

Britain's monthly retail sales declined 0.5% in July after a revised 0.7% growth in June, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Friday.Analysts expected a 0.4% dip for the month.On a yearly basis, UK retail sales grew 1.6%, against the revised 3.8% increase previously and the expected 2.2% rise.Excluding automotive fuel, retail sales were down 0.9% month over month and up 2.3% annually, following the revised gains of 0.9% and 5% earlier, respectively. The figures compare with the consensus estimates of a 0.5% monthly decline and a 3.3% yearly increase.

FTSE 100
International

GfK: UK Consumer Confidence Improves in August

Britain's consumer confidence indicator climbed to -14 points in August from -17 points in July, market research company Growth from Knowledge said Friday.The consensus estimate for the month was -18 points.

FTSE 100
Asia Markets

British Stocks Rise; JD Sports Plunges After Guidance Cut

UK equities traded higher on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 closing 0.13% in the green, amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran.US President Donald Trump warned of economic consequences against any country where financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities are providing any sort of support to Iran. With talks on hold, Trump also said his government is planning "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale" against Tehran, making it the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country!"In corporate news, JD Sports Fashion (JD.L) lowered its fiscal 2027 outlook for profit before tax and adjusting items to between 700 million pounds sterling and 800 million pounds from 750 million pounds to 850 million pounds. The sports retailer reported total sales of 5.9 billion pounds for the 26 weeks ended Aug. 1, down 0.7% year-over-year on an organic basis and 2.8% on a like-for-like basis. Shares slumped 14.19% to become the blue-chip index's worst performer in the closing session."JD Sports reported a weaker than expected 2Q especially in US which sees FY guidance cut of c. -4% at mid point v cons. Group 2Q LFL was -3.1% v cons -1.5% although recent brand commentary has been more mixed. By region, North America LFL -6.8%, Europe -2.7%, UK +0.8% and Asia +1.4%. Space growth remained supportive, contributing +2.1% to Group sales in 1H despite a lower store count. By category, footwear remained weak amid product cycle headwinds and a promotional market, while apparel and accessories continued to perform well across regions as expected," Deutsche Numis Research said.In the economic corner, the UK manufacturing sector logged an improvement in the order book balance to -25% in August from -45% in July as export orders rebounded to normal for the first time in over four years. While the reading surpassed expectations for -40%, total new orders remained below their long-run average of -14%."Firms also expect output to fall at a much slower pace over the next three months," CBI Senior Economist Cameron Martin said. "However, it is too soon to know whether this marks the beginning of a sustained shift in conditions, particularly given ongoing cost pressures reported by manufacturers, with selling price expectations in our survey picking up again and remaining well above historical norms."

FTSE 100$JD.L
International

Statistics Office Upwardly Revises UK's 2023, 2024 Economic Growth Estimates

The UK's Office for National Statistics said the country's gross domestic product in 2023 and 2024 grew more than it previously thought, with the 2024 level now estimated to be 0.5% higher.The statistical office said Thursday the revisions are part of its annual GDP review aimed at improving its estimate of the British economy's size and growth by including new data sources and updating methods.Annual volume GDP growth in 2023 and 2024 was upwardly revised by 0.1 percentage point each, with the 2024 rate now standing at 1.1%.

FTSE 100
International

UK CBI: Total Order Books Balance Improves in August

Total new orders in the UK manufacturing sector climbed to -25% in August from -45% in July, the Confederation of British Industry's industrial trends survey showed Thursday.Analysts expected the reading to stand at -40%.Total order books, however, were reported as below "normal" during the month, remaining under their long-run average of -14%.

FTSE 100
Asia Markets

FTSE 100 Gains; Higher Energy Prices Push UK Inflation Up

British equities traded higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 up 0.18% at closing, despite concerns over rising UK inflation and elevated energy prices linked to the US-Iran war.Annual inflation rate in the UK climbed to 2.9% in July from 2.6% in June, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. The monthly rise in consumer prices also accelerated to 0.3% from 0.1%, with both the latest readings matching consensus estimates for the month. Excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, however, the annual inflation rate was stable at 2.6%, above the expected 2.5%."The energy-driven jump in CPI inflation from 2.6% yoy in June to 2.9% yoy July does not make it any more likely that the Bank of England (BoE) will raise interest rates. The increase was in line with expectations (Bloomberg consensus: 2.9%, Berenberg: 2.9%, BoE: 2.8%) and wholly driven by a belated rise in household energy bills to reflect the effect of the Iran war on gas prices. While the contribution to inflation from energy prices jumped, underlying inflation continued to ease," Berenberg said.On the corporate front, Smith & Nephew (SN.L) declined 3.83% at closing after Chief Financial Officer John Rogers tendered his resignation, effective Sept. 30, to pursue an external opportunity in the US. The medical technology company initiated the search process for a new CFO.Meanwhile, Diageo's (DGE.L) fiscal 2026 report showed that the wine and spirits maker downsized by 1,922 employees year over year. Staff totaled 27,938 at the end of June, compared with 29,860 earlier. As part of an ongoing restructuring program, the majority of staff reductions in its global markets are expected to be completed by Sept. 1. The stock was 0.15% in the red.HSBC (HSBA.L) and Standard Chartered (STAN.L) completed the first bank-to-bank tokenized deposit interoperability transaction through a live cross-border payment. The lenders executed the transaction through the exchange of payment messages over Swift's blockchain-based ledger, creating tokenized obligations for the two lenders. HSBC was 0.82% lower, while Standard Chartered was down 1.82%.Oil and gas heavyweights Shell (SHEL.L) and BP (BP.L) rose 0.85% and 0.99%, respectively, as fuel prices climbed amid no progress between the US and Iran on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Shell Lubricants extended its global partnership with South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor for five years, retaining its position as Hyundai's recommended global supplier of aftersales lubricants.

FTSE 100$BP.L$DGE.L$HSBA.L$SHEL.L$SN.L$STAN.L
International

UK Average House Prices Up 0.1% MoM in June

House prices in the UK ticked up 0.1% month over month on average in June, following a revised 0.5% rise in May, according to government land registry data published Wednesday.The average house price in the UK was 272,188 pounds sterling as of June.The house price index was up 2% on an annual basis, compared with the revised 3% growth in the previous month. Analysts expected an annual increase of 1.9%.

FTSE 100
Gas Price Surge Drives UK Inflation Higher to 2.9% in July
US Markets

Gas Price Surge Drives UK Inflation Higher to 2.9% in July

Britain's annual inflation rate accelerated in July on the back of the sharpest jump in gas prices in nearly four years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics released Wednesday.Consumer price growth was at 2.9% year over year in the month, up from June's 2.6%. The latest figure aligned with the consensus forecast for the month."Inflation rose in July, driven by a sharp increase in gas prices following this month's change to the energy price cap. This was the largest rise in gas prices for almost four years," ONS Deputy Director for Prices Mike Hardie said. "Other upward pressures included furniture prices falling by less than usual for this time of year, and also a smaller fall for clothing prices due to reduced discounting."July 2026 inflation received its sharpest boost from gas prices since the Ukraine war-driven energy crisis in October 2022, as gas costs jumped 14.7% after falling 7.2% a year earlier.Excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, the annual inflation rate remained at 2.6%, above the market forecast of 2.5%Against this backdrop, ING expects the Bank of England to maintain its key rate at 3.75% for the remainder of the year before restarting rate cuts in the spring of 2027."We currently expect headline inflation to peak around 3.2% into next winter, on the assumption that food inflation does start to pick up a bit. But that's well below the 4% level, which we think is the threshold for the Bank to seriously consider rate hikes," ING wrote.

FTSE 100
International

UK's Annual Retail Prices Up 3.2% in July

The UK's retail prices rose 3.2% year over year in July, following a 3% increase in June, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday.The consensus estimate for the month was a 3.3% growth.On a monthly basis, the index was 0.6% higher, against the prior 0.3% gain and the expected 0.8% rise.

FTSE 100
International

UK's Annual Inflation Accelerates to 2.9% in July

Britain's annual inflation rate rose to 2.9% in July from 2.6% in June, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Wednesday.The latest reading matched the consensus estimate for the month.On a monthly basis, consumer prices were 0.3% higher, as expected, compared with a 0.1% gain earlier.Meanwhile, the UK's annual core inflation rate was 2.6%, unchanged from the prior month and higher than the expected 2.5%. Month over month, core consumer prices edged up 0.2%, following a 0.3% lift in June and the consensus estimate of a 0.1% increase.

FTSE 100
International

UK's Annual Producer Input, Output Prices Eases in July

Producer input prices in the UK climbed 4.9% year over year in July, following the revised 7.4% jump earlier, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday.Analysts expected a 6.6% rise for the month.Meanwhile, producer output or factory gate prices gained 3.1% annually, against the 3.5% increase earlier and the expected 3.2% growth.On a monthly basis, producer input prices dropped 1.7% in July, compared with the revised 1.9% decline previously and expectations of zero growth. Monthly factory gate prices were 0.2% higher, versus the revised 0.1% dip previously and projected 0.2% gain.

FTSE 100
Equities

UK Shares Rise Following Labor Market Data

British equities traded higher Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 up 0.14% at close, supported by gains in energy shares as rising crude prices offset concerns over geopolitical tensions, while softer labor market data eased expectations of a more hawkish Bank of England.Britain's unemployment rate was stable at 4.9% in the three months to June, unchanged from the three-month periods to May and April, according to the Office for National Statistics. Analysts expected the rate to fall to 4.8%. Average weekly pay, including bonuses, rose 4.1% year over year in the quarter to June, slowing from a revised 4.4% increase in the previous period but exceeding the 4% consensus estimate."Ongoing weakness in private-sector hiring and wage growth suggests the bar is still relatively high for a rate hike in 2026, barring a severe and prolonged spike in energy prices. We expect the Bank of England to remain on hold this year and resume rate cuts from spring 2027," said James Smith, developed markets economist for UK at ING Think.In the US-Iran space, Washington decided not to extend the 60-day truce agreed in June, while top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US agreed to end its blockade of Iranian ports, lift ​oil sanctions, unfreeze Tehran's assets, and stop threats and military ⁠operations on all fronts. Amid waning chances for a lasting US-Iran peace deal, crude prices spiked, driving oil heavyweights like BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) up 2.96% and 1.86%, respectively, in the closing session.In corporate news, BHP Group (BHP.L) rose 0.74% following discussions with NexGen Energy about a potential ⁠equity partnership in the latter's Rook I mining project in Saskatchewan, Canada, Reuters reported, citing NexGen's Chief Executive Officer Leigh Curyer.Separately, the mining group also reported a yearly rise in attributable profit for the 12 months ended June 30 to $9.83 billion from $9.02 billion on late Monday. Revenue increased to $58.76 billion from $51.26 billion a year ago."[The] timing of [NexGen] article is curious on the eve of BHP's results that will be the first time in charge for Brandon Craig, new CEO, and who may be looking to see the reaction from investors and the company," RBC Capital Markets said. "We would be surprised if the discussions were that serious from an M&A perspective, given the CEO was willing to mention to the press. BHP already have a lot on their plate over the next decade from their copper project pipeline. Even if they have the balance sheet capacity from ongoing iron ore cash flows and further infrastructure swaps, the project team execution will be severely strained in our view. Credibility is already at a low point due to the capex issue at Jansen."

FTSE 100$BHP.L$BP.L$SHEL.L
UK Unemployment Rate Stable in Second Quarter Amid Sustained Slowdown in Private-sector Wage Growth
US Markets

UK Unemployment Rate Stable in Second Quarter Amid Sustained Slowdown in Private-sector Wage Growth

The UK's jobless rate unexpectedly held steady in the second quarter amid a marginal decline in job vacancies and continued easing in private sector pay growth, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Tuesday.The unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over came in at 4.9% in the three months to June, unchanged from the three months to May. Analysts expected an unemployment rate of 4.8% for the period.Meanwhile, the UK employment rate for people aged 16 years and over was 60.7% during the quarter to June. For people aged 16 to 64 years, the employment rate stood at 75.1%"The labour market picture is little changed overall, with some softening still evident. Employment, unemployment and inactivity rates have all remained steady, while the number of employees on payroll fell slightly in the latest quarter," ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said. "Vacancies remain broadly flat, though a small fall in the latest period puts them at the lowest level in more than five years. The latest decrease was driven mainly by smaller businesses, which cite labour and operating costs as reasons for not hiring new staff or replacing leavers."Employees' average regular earnings growth, excluding bonuses, came in at 3.5% year over year in the quarter to June, compared with the previous and expected 3.4%, while total earnings, including bonuses, rose 4.1%, after the revised 4.4% jump previously.In the public sector, the annual average growth in regular pay stood at 6.1%, higher than 5.5% in the previous three-month period, while regular earnings growth in the private sector edged down to 2.8% from 2.9%."Limited pay increases in the private sector coupled with increased staff productivity supports our call that domestically generated price pressures will continue to ease," Berenberg said in a UK labor market-focused note."While higher energy prices will keep headline CPI inflation at around 3% for the rest of the year, above the [Bank of England's] 2% target, slowing services price inflation will likely drag it below 2% in the second half of 2027, once the upward pressure from energy prices drops out of the equation. We expect the BoE to resume interest rate cuts in December and lower its policy rate to 3.00% next summer, in order to prevent a protracted inflation undershoot," the research firm added.

FTSE 100
International

UK Quarterly Labor Productivity Down 0.8% in Q2, Flash Data Shows

The UK's output per hour worked declined 0.8% on a quarterly basis in the second quarter, following a revised 1.1% gain in the prior three-month period, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed Tuesday.On a yearly basis, output per hour worked rose 0.7%, against the revised 2.1% increase previously.

FTSE 100
International

UK Claimant Count Drops in July

Unemployment benefits claims in the UK fell by 10,968 in July, after a revised decrease of 6,400 in June, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Tuesday.Analysts expected growth of 16,500 for the month.

FTSE 100
International

UK Average Earnings Including Bonuses Up 4.1% in Three Months to June

Britain's average weekly pay, including bonuses, rose 4.1% year over year in the quarter to June, following a revised 4.4% jump in the prior three-month period, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday.The latest reading is above the consensus estimate of a 4% increase.Excluding bonuses, the growth in average weekly earnings was 3.5%, against the previous and expected 3.4%.

FTSE 100

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