UK Stock Market Week Ahead: FTSE 100 Braces for Bank of England Decision After Weak GDP and Fed Cut (15–19 December 2025)
The FTSE 100 closed Friday at 9,649.03 after a US-led sell-off and renewed AI concerns hit global markets. UK GDP shrank 0.1% in October, fueling expectations for a Bank of England rate cut. Sterling slipped and gilts rose on the weak data. Card Factory shares dropped after a profit warning, highlighting fragile consumer sentiment.