London, Jan 11, 2026, 08:42 GMT — Markets have closed.
- National Grid gained 0.8% on Friday, nearing its 52-week peak
- Investors are watching the Jan. 13 interim dividend as inflation figures loom, with potential to sway rate forecasts
- Outages caused by Storm Goretti have thrust grid resilience back into traders’ spotlight
National Grid shares ended Friday at 1,192.5 pence, climbing 0.8% on the day as the UK utility continued its slow upward trend from earlier this year. 1
This shift is significant as the stock approaches a dividend week, with National Grid set to pay its interim dividend on Jan. 13, per its investor calendar. 2
It arrives amid a market jittery over rates. Utilities often act as “bond proxies” — a term for sectors whose income streams react to shifts in government yields — and upcoming data could shift that dynamic. 3
Global stocks closed Friday higher, shrugging off a weaker U.S. jobs report that failed to derail hopes for rate cuts later this year. Utilities in the S&P 500 jumped 1.24%, Reuters noted. 4
National Grid is testing resistance near the top of its range. The stock has swung between 909.80 pence and 1,195.35 pence over the past year. It’s currently trading above its 50-day moving average of 1,147.22 pence and also above the 200-day average of 1,082.36 pence, per Yahoo Finance. 5
Weather played a role this weekend as storm Goretti cut power to tens of thousands of homes in Britain and pushed wholesale power prices higher across western Europe, Reuters reported Friday. 6
National Grid, central to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network and owner of U.S. grids, has long flagged the need for fresh investment. While a recent spate of outages seldom alters short-term earnings projections, it tends to keep regulators and politicians locked onto resilience funding.
National Grid announced an eight-week public consultation for its LionLink subsea electricity cable, connecting Suffolk to the Netherlands. The consultation period runs from Jan. 13 to March 10. The project aims to deliver up to two gigawatts. 7
Tuesday is loaded for macro watchers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will drop December’s CPI data at 8:30 a.m. ET on Jan. 13. Any surprises there could jolt bond yields sharply. 8
The UK’s next inflation report arrives Jan. 21, the Office for National Statistics confirmed — a date investors in rate-sensitive stocks mark closely. 9
The setup works both ways. If inflation spikes and yields rise, utilities can quickly lose appeal despite their dividends. A brutal winter could also drive up operating expenses and repair bills, with investors closely eyeing any shift in those costs.
On Monday, eyes will be on National Grid to see if it can break decisively above the 1,195 pence mark and maintain that level. Falling back toward 1,150 pence would bring the 50-day moving average into focus again.
