Today: 21 May 2026
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UK Economy 20 January 2026 - 24 January 2026

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 slips as upbeat UK data meets rate-cut doubts; Babcock, C&C move

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 slips as upbeat UK data meets rate-cut doubts; Babcock, C&C move

The FTSE 100 fell 0.13% to 10,136.43 on Friday, reversing early gains as strong UK retail sales and a jump in business activity fueled speculation the Bank of England may delay rate cuts. Retail sales rose 0.4% in December, beating forecasts, while the UK Composite PMI hit 53.9, its highest since April 2024. Babcock shares slipped 1.2% after its CEO announced plans to retire. C&C Group dropped 9.6% on a profit warning.
23 January 2026
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FTSE 100 climbs as Trump cools tariff row; Beazley bid and BoE bets steer UK stocks

FTSE 100 climbs as Trump cools tariff row; Beazley bid and BoE bets steer UK stocks

The FTSE 100 rose 0.7% to 10,212.91 by 1104 GMT, as risk appetite improved after President Trump eased tariff threats against European NATO allies. Senior shares jumped 8.3% on a profit outlook upgrade, while Beazley fell 1% after rejecting a Zurich Insurance bid. JD Sports reported a 1.8% drop in like-for-like sales and warned of muted growth ahead.
22 January 2026
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NatWest share price rises as buyback update meets shifting BoE rate-cut bets

NatWest share price rises as buyback update meets shifting BoE rate-cut bets

NatWest shares rose 1.6% to 660 pence in early London trading after the bank announced new buybacks and plans to cancel repurchased shares. JPMorgan raised its price target for NatWest to 750 pence. The bank bought back 830,691 shares on Jan. 21, reducing outstanding shares to about 7.99 billion. Investors await the Bank of England’s Feb. 5 decision and NatWest’s earnings on Feb. 13.
22 January 2026
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British Land’s leasing jump fuels UK dividend hunt as Legal & General’s 8% yield grabs attention

British Land’s leasing jump fuels UK dividend hunt as Legal & General’s 8% yield grabs attention

British Land signed 882,000 sq ft of leases in the third quarter, 8.5% above estimated rental value, and kept its earnings forecast. The company reported 1.8 million sq ft under offer and said retail park occupancy stands at 99%. UK inflation rose in December, but analysts expect the Bank of England to cut rates three times this year. Investors remain cautious about dividend risks despite British Land’s 5.5% yield.
22 January 2026
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HSBC share price slips in London as trade jitters weigh on banks, UK inflation in focus

HSBC share price slips in London as trade jitters weigh on banks, UK inflation in focus

HSBC shares fell 0.8% to 1,221 pence in early London trading, tracking declines across European banks after renewed U.S.-Europe trade tensions. The STOXX 600 slipped 0.1% and the Europe-wide banks index dropped 0.6%. UK inflation rose to 3.4% in December, adding pressure on rate forecasts. HSBC also announced a pilot with Harvey AI for its Global Legal division.
21 January 2026
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Why London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) share price is sliding: buyback filing lands as UK reforms and tariff jitters collide

Why London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) share price is sliding: buyback filing lands as UK reforms and tariff jitters collide

London Stock Exchange Group shares fell 1.2% to 8,974 pence by 0826 GMT after announcing new buybacks and the purchase of 110,386 shares for cancellation. Britain’s new capital-raising rules took effect, raising the prospectus threshold and aiming to cut costs. London markets dropped after President Trump announced a 10% tariff on UK and European imports, effective Feb. 1. LSEG will report preliminary 2025 results on Feb. 26.
20 January 2026
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Compass Group share price slips in early London trade as tariff jitters hit markets; Feb 5 update looms

Compass Group share price slips in early London trade as tariff jitters hit markets; Feb 5 update looms

Compass Group shares fell 0.8% to 2,264.5 pence in early London trading Tuesday, extending a five-day slide to 2.2%. The drop tracked broader market weakness amid renewed tariff threats and global risk aversion. No new company news moved the stock. Investors are eyeing Compass’s Feb. 5 trading update and annual meeting, with a final dividend set for Feb. 26.
20 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Crude Oil Surge Boosts Ethanol and Sugar Prices Amid Production Shifts
    May 21, 2026, 2:36 PM EDT. Crude oil prices rose over 2%, driving gains in ethanol and sugar markets. July New York sugar futures climbed 0.95%, supported by strong crude oil. Higher oil values encourage sugarcane mills to produce more ethanol, reducing sugar output. The International Sugar Organization forecasts a record 182 million metric tons (MMT) sugar crop for 2025/26 but anticipates a drop to 180 MMT in 2026/27, with a potential deficit due to El Niño impacts on key producers like India and Thailand. Brazil's sugar production estimates are lowering amid increased ethanol focus, with Citigroup projecting 39.5 MMT for 2026/27, below official numbers. India's export ban and production shifts contribute to tightening supplies. Market watchers also highlight significant export growth from Thailand, adding complexity to price dynamics.

Latest articles

Sirius XM stock nears new highs as traders look at audio strategy

Sirius XM stock nears new highs as traders look at audio strategy

21 May 2026
Sirius XM shares rose 6.8% to $28.90 by 2:07 p.m. EDT Thursday, outpacing major U.S. indexes. The rally followed CFO Zac Coughlin’s investor conference appearance and news of a renewed multi-year NASCAR broadcast deal. First-quarter subscriber losses were smaller than expected, and revenue topped forecasts. Volume reached 4.8 million shares, with a market value near $9.8 billion.
KEEL Surges as Investors Back Keel’s AI Data Center Plans

KEEL Surges as Investors Back Keel’s AI Data Center Plans

21 May 2026
Keel Infrastructure shares jumped 7.1% to $4.53 Thursday, nearing a 52-week high, as investors bet on its pivot from crypto mining to AI-focused power infrastructure. Trading volume reached 22.31 million shares, below average. The company reported a wider net loss of $145.35 million for the March quarter on lower revenue and warned its transformation faces risks tied to permits, costs, and competition.
SoFi Stock Treads Water as Traders Keep an Eye on Next Move

SoFi Stock Treads Water as Traders Keep an Eye on Next Move

21 May 2026
SoFi Technologies shares fell 0.2% to $15.66 in early trading Thursday, underperforming tech peers as investors weighed strong first-quarter results against concerns over rates and credit risk. The company reported record loan originations of $12.2 billion and net income of $166.7 million, but kept its 2026 profit outlook unchanged after April’s earnings, disappointing some analysts.
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