LSE:COST 26 January 2026

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 steadies as gold tops $5,100 and Spire surges

FTSE 100 rose 0.05% to 10,148.03 by mid-morning Monday, lifted by metal miners as gold hit a record above $5,100 an ounce. Spire Healthcare jumped on takeover interest, while Costain advanced after a pension deal cleared the way for a £20 million share buyback. Sterling touched $1.3665, its highest since September. Banks drew focus ahead of earnings, with some expected to raise profit forecasts.

26 January 2026

FTSE 100·Gold Prices·LSE:COST·LSE:SPI·Stock Market

Bitcoin Miners Face $19,000 Loss Per BTC Amid Falling Difficulty and Rising Costs
March 22, 2026, 5:18 AM EDT. Bitcoin miners are losing about $19,000 on every BTC produced, driven by a network difficulty drop of 7.8% and surging energy costs tied to the Middle East conflict. The average cost to mine one bitcoin stands at $88,000, while the market price is near $69,200, pushing miners into an average 21% loss. Mining difficulty has fallen nearly 10% since the year's start, with hashrate retreating from last year's peak. Rising oil prices, disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, and geopolitical risks elevate mining expenses. Miners are coping by diversifying into AI and computing sectors. The next difficulty adjustment in April may decrease further, signaling continued stress and a shrinking miner base, impacting bitcoin's market structure beyond just the mining sector.