London, Feb 7, 2026, 08:55 GMT — Market closed.
National Grid (NG.L) finished Friday at 1,285 pence, up 0.23% for the day. With London markets closed over the weekend, rate bets and bond yields take center stage until trading picks up again on Monday.
This one lands for National Grid, a utility known for its rate sensitivity. It’s got big outlays, plenty of debt, and investors tend to look for its stable dividends and reliable cash flow. The Bank of England, for its part, kept rates at 3.75% after a tight 5-4 split on Thursday. Governor Andrew Bailey flagged “scope for some further reduction” later this year, provided inflation tracks lower as expected. Reuters
The Bank of England’s survey out Friday found markets are looking for rates to trough at 3.0% come the March 2027 meeting. According to Reuters, futures are nearly all-in on two more 25-basis-point cuts in 2026—a setup that could buoy utility stocks as expectations adjust to falling borrowing costs.
The FTSE 100 wrapped up Friday up 0.6%, lifted by big banks, as the Bank of England’s signal left the rate outlook unresolved.
National Grid this week said it’s teaming up with Space Solar to test “wireless power transmission,” aiming to see if a ground-based setup could move electricity without traditional overhead wires. “Innovative thinking” is key to cleaner energy, according to Tim Polack, NGED’s director of strategy and transformation. Space Solar’s co-CEO Sam Adlen noted the tech might help meet “growing electricity infrastructure needs,” the Institution of Mechanical Engineers reported. imeche.org
National Grid’s Ventures arm is marking five years since launching the 1GW IFA2 interconnector — the HVDC cable tying Britain to France. The company says the link has carried enough power to supply more than 1.6 million UK homes annually, on average. “These links add flexibility and resilience as supply and demand fluctuate across borders,” said Rebecca Sedler, National Grid’s managing director for interconnectors. National Grid
National Grid’s ADR finished Friday at $88.06 in New York, gaining $1.17, according to the company’s U.S. website. Traders keep an eye on the ADR to gauge how shifts in U.S. rates and sentiment could flow through to London.
Plenty could trip this up. UK inflation that refuses to budge would force the BoE to stick with higher rates, and those same utility stocks could fall out of favor quickly. Higher long-term gilt yields? Those hit companies with heavy leverage especially hard.
Monday, eyes on UK gilt yields and rate futures right out of the gate. If the pound starts moving, defensives could see action next. Unless a new regulatory headline or company news hits, expect stock-specific flow to stay thin.
National Grid’s next major event is its 2025/26 full-year earnings release, scheduled for May 14. The company’s investor calendar also lists May 28 as the ex-date for its final dividend.
