Today: 18 July 2026
Browse Category

LSE:FRES 9 December 2025 - 6 May 2026

UK Stock Market Forecast 2026: FTSE 100 clings to rate-cut bets as AI jitters hit data stocks

UK Stock Market Forecast 2026: FTSE 100 clings to rate-cut bets as AI jitters hit data stocks

London’s FTSE 100 edged up on Friday as gains in major banks outweighed another drop from data analytics firm RELX, which continues to feel pressure amid the global AI selloff. The blue-chip index was 0.2% higher at 1133 GMT, eyeing a second consecutive weekly gain. The FTSE 250, meanwhile, barely moved and looks set to slip for a second week. Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds climbed between 1% and 1.6%. RELX fell 3.5%. Fresnillo gained 1.8%, while Next added 0.5% after acquiring footwear brand Russell & Bromley via an insolvency deal.
FTSE 100 hovers near record as Experian jumps on $1bn buyback and miners slide

FTSE 100 hovers near record as Experian jumps on $1bn buyback and miners slide

The UK stock market barely moved on Friday. Experian surged following a fresh buyback announcement, balancing out sharp losses in major miners as metal prices dipped. The blue-chip FTSE 100 edged up roughly 0.2% to about 10,189 points, while the FTSE 250, more UK-focused, held steady.
FTSE 100 hits 10,000 after best year since 2009

FTSE 100 hits 10,000 after best year since 2009

Britain’s FTSE 100 hit the 10,000 level for the first time on Friday, capping a surge that left the index up nearly 22% in 2025, its strongest annual showing since 2009. The benchmark beat both the pan-European STOXX 600 and the U.S. S&P 500 last year, while the more domestically focused FTSE 250 rose about 9%. Miners such as Fresnillo, defence contractors including Babcock and Rolls-Royce and banks led by Lloyds powered gains in a market with limited exposure to artificial intelligence stocks. Reuters
Go toTop