UK Stock Market Today (12 December 2025): FTSE 100 Rises as UK GDP Surprise Fuels BoE Rate-Cut Bets; Card Factory Slumps, Energy and Deal News Lift Sentiment

London shares ended higher on Friday, 12 December 2025, with the FTSE 100 supported by a risk-on global backdrop after this week’s US Federal Reserve cut, and by renewed expectations that the Bank of England will start easing again as UK growth data disappointed. But the day’s tape also underlined a more complicated reality for investors: softer macro data can lift rate-cut hopes even as it raises questions about underlying demand—particularly for UK-facing retailers. Reuters+3Investing.com UK+3Reuters+3