London, Jan 24, 2026, 08:44 GMT — Market closed.
SSE PLC shares closed Friday on the London Stock Exchange at 2,322 pence, slipping 6 pence, or 0.26%. The stock fluctuated between 2,299 and 2,329 pence, holding close to the upper boundary of its 52-week range. (Investing)
UK markets were closed Saturday, so Monday’s move hinges on whether company updates or rate decisions take the lead.
Utilities often seem dull—until bond markets shift. Rising yields hit the steady cash flows behind dividend stocks, pushing their prices down as those earnings face steeper discounting.
Morgan Stanley has shifted its forecast, now predicting the Bank of England will deliver its next rate cut in March instead of February. The BoE’s next policy meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5, where rates are expected to hold steady at 3.75%. Markets currently price in about 42.33 basis points of cuts through the end of 2026. (Reuters)
UK retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.4% in December, defying forecasts of a decline, while the flash S&P Global composite PMI increased to 53.9. Jonas Goltermann, deputy chief markets economist at Capital Economics, noted that “retail sales are a very volatile series.” Elliott Jordan-Doak of Pantheon Macroeconomics commented that “GDP growth is likely to pick up in Q1.” (Reuters)
Bank of England policymaker Megan Greene expressed caution on inflation, highlighting concerns around wage growth and inflation expectations. “I will be watching household and business inflation expectations” closely in the coming months, she said. (Reuters)
Equities felt the pressure from rate concerns and political jitters. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.07% on Friday, ending a three-week rally as investors grew wary of fresh geopolitical tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats targeting Greenland. (Reuters)
Not all peers moved in sync. National Grid closed Friday up 0.42%, reaching 1,191.5 pence. (Investing)
The risk scenario for SSE is similar but intensified: inflation remains stubborn, rate cuts get delayed once more, and rising gilt yields continue to weigh on “bond proxy” stocks. In this environment, a standard trading update could still fall short if it fails to reinforce confidence in the dividend or the investment strategy.
SSE has two key dates coming up. The interim dividend will be paid out on Jan. 30, and the company plans to release its Q3 trading statement on Feb. 4 — a report that could shake up forecasts for the spring. (Sse)
