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Bank of England News 17 December 2025 - 5 February 2026

FTSE 100 slips from highs as Bank of England looms; Shell results hit UK shares today

FTSE 100 slips from highs as Bank of England looms; Shell results hit UK shares today

UK stocks slipped Thursday, with the FTSE 100 down 0.2% to 10,382 by 1052 GMT as investors awaited the Bank of England’s rate decision. Shell fell 1.9% after missing profit forecasts but kept its buyback pace. Vodafone dropped 4.7% after launching a €500 million buyback. The STOXX 600 lost 0.5% amid mixed European earnings.
National Grid share price edges up ahead of Bank of England decision — what’s driving NG.L today

National Grid share price edges up ahead of Bank of England decision — what’s driving NG.L today

National Grid shares rose 0.2% to 1,281 pence in early London trading, hovering near recent highs as investors await the Bank of England’s rate decision on Thursday. CEO Zoë Yujnovich received a small Sharesave option grant, according to a regulatory filing. The FTSE 100 set a record high Wednesday amid a shift toward value stocks.
LSEG share price extends AI-driven slide as investors brace for BoE, earnings

LSEG share price extends AI-driven slide as investors brace for BoE, earnings

London Stock Exchange Group shares fell 1.3% to 7,086 pence by 08:07 GMT Wednesday, after plunging 12.7% the previous day. The drop followed new AI tools from Anthropic, raising fears over LSEG’s data and analytics business. Trading volume on Tuesday hit 3.2 million shares, more than double the 50-day average. LSEG disclosed a fresh buyback as investors await the Bank of England’s Feb. 5 decision and earnings later this month.
UK stock market today: FTSE 100 steadies as miners tumble in metals rout, BoE looms

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 steadies as miners tumble in metals rout, BoE looms

FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% by late morning as defensive shares offset sharp losses in mining stocks. Commodity prices tumbled after President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as Fed chair, with gold down 5% and silver over 7%. FTSE 250 fell 0.4%, led by declines in Auction Technology Group and Ocado. UK manufacturing PMI rose to 51.8 in January, signaling growth.
London Stock Exchange Today: FTSE 100 Near Record High, BoE Rate Cut Shifts the 2026 Outlook, and AIM Reforms Target an IPO Revival

London Stock Exchange Today: FTSE 100 Near Record High, BoE Rate Cut Shifts the 2026 Outlook, and AIM Reforms Target an IPO Revival

London, 20 December 2025 — The London Stock Exchange (LSE) heads into the final full trading week before Christmas with a rare combination of momentum and uncertainty: the FTSE 100 is pressing toward the 10,000 milestone, helped by heavyweight miners, defence names and globally diversified earnings — even as the UK economy looks soft, consumer data stays choppy, and policymakers signal that future rate cuts won’t be a straight line. Reuters+2FT Markets+2 Because today is a Saturday, the “live” story for the London market is really Friday’s close — but the themes investors are carrying into Monday (22 December) are
Bank of England Interest Rate Decision Today: Expected Cut to 3.75% Could Ease UK Mortgage Costs Ahead of 2026

Bank of England Interest Rate Decision Today: Expected Cut to 3.75% Could Ease UK Mortgage Costs Ahead of 2026

London, 18 December 2025 — The Bank of England is expected to announce a pre-Christmas interest rate cut at midday, a move that markets have increasingly priced in after UK inflation fell more sharply than forecast and fresh data pointed to a cooling jobs market and slowing growth. Reuters+2Sky News+2 A quarter-point reduction would take Bank Rate from 4% to 3.75%, which would be the fourth cut of 2025 and the lowest level in nearly three years—offering a potential boost to borrowers and a closely watched signal about how far rates might fall in 2026. Reuters+2Reuters+2 Why a Bank of
UK Stock Market Today (18 December 2025): FTSE 100 Set for a Cautious Open as BoE Rate Cut Looms; BP CEO Shock and Currys Results in Focus

UK Stock Market Today (18 December 2025): FTSE 100 Set for a Cautious Open as BoE Rate Cut Looms; BP CEO Shock and Currys Results in Focus

London, 18 December 2025 — The United Kingdom stock market is starting the day on a cautious footing, with the FTSE 100 expected to edge slightly lower at the open as investors brace for a high-impact mix of Bank of England policy, fresh US inflation data, and a global risk mood unsettled by renewed tech-sector “AI spending” jitters. TradingView+2Reuters+2 While the mood is wary, London equities remain supported by two powerful domestic tailwinds: a sharp downside surprise in UK inflation that has pushed rate-cut expectations close to “fully priced”, and a heavyweight energy sector that may benefit from rebounding oil
UK Stock Market Today (17 December 2025): FTSE 100 Rallies as Inflation Surprise Fuels Bank of England Rate-Cut Bets

UK Stock Market Today (17 December 2025): FTSE 100 Rallies as Inflation Surprise Fuels Bank of England Rate-Cut Bets

LONDON — 17 December 2025. UK equities finished higher on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 closing up 0.9% at 9,774.32 after stronger gains earlier in the session, as a sharper-than-expected drop in inflation strengthened expectations of a Bank of England (BoE) rate cut on Thursday. The more domestically focused FTSE 250 added 0.6% to 22,164.76, while the AIM All-Share rose 0.3% to 751.48. lse.co.uk The day’s rally was broad-based but rate-sensitive sectors took the spotlight: housebuilders advanced on the prospect of cheaper mortgages, banks rallied on upgrades and a wider European financials bid, and energy shares stabilised as oil prices firmed again. lse.co.uk+1 UK market snapshot: FTSE 100, FTSE 250,
UK Inflation Drops to 3.2% in November as Food Prices Cool — Bank of England Rate Cut Looms

UK Inflation Drops to 3.2% in November as Food Prices Cool — Bank of England Rate Cut Looms

UK inflation fell to 3.2% in November, driven by cheaper food, tobacco and clothing discounts. Markets now expect a BoE rate cut on 18 December. Britain’s inflation rate cooled more sharply than expected in November, strengthening the case for an interest-rate cut just days before the Bank of England’s final policy decision of the year. Official figures show easing price pressures across groceries, clothing and tobacco—welcome news for households still feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, and a key input for policymakers weighing how quickly to bring borrowing costs down. Office for National Statistics+2Sky News+2 The headline: inflation cools faster than forecast
UK Inflation Falls to 3.2% in November 2025, Fueling Bank of England Rate Cut Expectations

UK Inflation Falls to 3.2% in November 2025, Fueling Bank of England Rate Cut Expectations

UK inflation cooled more sharply than forecast in November, strengthening market expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut interest rates at its December decision. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 show the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate fell to 3.2% in the 12 months to November, down from 3.6% in October. On a month‑to‑month basis, CPI fell by 0.2%—a notable shift for a period that often includes pre‑Christmas price changes. Office for National Statistics The cooler‑than‑expected inflation report lands just one day before the BoE publishes its Monetary Policy
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Stock Market Today

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

Meta stock faces an AI split: ad gains vs a $135 billion bill

7 February 2026
Meta shares dropped 1.3% to $661.46 on Friday after the company projected 2026 capital spending of up to $135 billion, raising investor concerns over cash flow. Meta reported Q4 revenue of $59.89 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with ad impressions rising 18%. Analysts remain divided on whether AI-driven ad gains can offset the steep spending ramp.
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