UK Stock Market Today (17 December 2025): FTSE 100 Set to Jump as UK Inflation Drops to 3.2% Ahead of Bank of England Rate Decision
London shares are poised for a stronger start on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, after a sharper-than-expected drop in UK inflation reinforced expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates at its final policy meeting of the year on Thursday (18 December). Reuters+1 UK stock market snapshot: what traders are watching this morning Early indicators across UK markets point to a “rates relief” tone: This setup matters because the UK’s equity benchmarks are highly sensitive to shifts in rate expectations—especially through bank earnings assumptions, property and housebuilder sentiment, and the currency translation effect for globally exposed blue chips. The