London, Feb 22, 2026, 05:56 GMT — The market has wrapped up for the day.
- FTSE 100 ended Friday up 0.56%, setting a new record close. Investors showed stronger risk appetite after the U.S. Supreme Court’s tariff ruling.
- UK earnings season heats up Feb. 23, with HSBC, Standard Chartered, and London Stock Exchange Group all reporting.
- Stronger-than-expected UK retail sales figures and positive business survey results are now raising questions about forecasts for a smooth drop in inflation.
The FTSE 100 kicks off the week at record levels, with investors eyeing upcoming results from HSBC and London Stock Exchange Group. Those numbers could set the tone for how much higher the rally can go.
The benchmark has climbed, buoyed by global trade headlines and optimism around possible domestic rate cuts. Money is moving in—investors are latching onto the steadiness here compared to U.S. tech.
Why now? The index climbed to a new high. With company updates on deck, investors are about to find out whether this was just a burst of relief and repositioning—or if there’s actual momentum backing it up.
Over the next four sessions, attention on London shares will center around updates from a handful of names—big banks, insurance companies, consumer groups, plus the exchange operator itself will be in focus.
The FTSE 100 closed with a gain of 59.85 points, or 0.56%, finishing at 10,686.89. The benchmark touched an intraday high of 10,745.76 before slipping back. (Source: London Stock Exchange index data)
U.S. stocks moved higher Friday after the Supreme Court threw out President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Over in Britain, officials said they still expect to keep their preferred trade relationship with the United States intact.
Defense stocks managed to stay afloat as oil-region tensions in the Middle East lingered. Carmakers slipped. Aston Martin cut its annual loss estimate and said it’s looking to sell the naming rights for the Aston Martin F1 Team.
UK retail sales bounced 1.8% in January from December, climbing 4.5% over the year and beating the Reuters survey, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. “Consumers are opening their wallets again,” said Thomas Pugh, chief economist at RSM UK. (Source: Reuters retail sales story)
Business surveys offered a similar story. The S&P Global UK composite PMI flash for February printed 53.9—the highest since April 2024 and still above the 50 mark that signals growth. “An encouraging start to the year,” said Chris Williamson, S&P Global’s chief business economist. Yet Allan Monks, chief UK economist at J.P. Morgan, flagged that “inflation stickiness” remains. (Source: Reuters PMI story)
The core of the move sits under the newest rate bets. Traders have staked out positions ahead of a possible Bank of England cut in March; decision lands March 19. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. (Source: Bank of England MPC dates)
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Group, described the FTSE as “a rare safe haven this year.” He pointed to its lower valuations and noted “steady momentum,” crediting a move out of overcrowded U.S. tech names. (Source: Reuters London stocks close story)
This week is busy, starting with MoneySuperMarket on Monday. Standard Chartered, Unite, and Croda International step up Tuesday. HSBC, Haleon, St James’s Place, Hiscox, ConvaTec, and Aston Martin all report midweek. Thursday brings updates from London Stock Exchange Group, WPP, Drax, and Flutter Entertainment. (Source: LSE financial diary)
Banks are in the spotlight this week as investors track credit quality and tweaks to loan-loss provisions, especially after a run of positive UK macro numbers. Results from Standard Chartered could shed light on what to expect from HSBC, with both lenders drawing attention midweek.
Public finances are still touchy. In January, Britain notched up a 30.4 billion pound surplus—a record, Reuters reports—giving Finance Minister Rachel Reeves a bit of breathing room ahead of her March 3 fiscal update. “We will more than halve borrowing by 2030-31,” Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said. Still, Dennis Tatarkov at KPMG UK flagged that the chancellor’s flexibility has “already likely diminished.” (Source: Reuters UK public finances story)
But that risk hasn’t gone away. The Supreme Court’s call keeps tariff uncertainty alive. Trump flagged “other alternatives,” and then slapped a 10% global tariff on, pulling from a different law. Sudden shifts like these can hit risk assets hard and quick. (Source: Reuters Supreme Court tariffs ruling)
HSBC reports on Wednesday, with LSE Group and WPP set to deliver their updates Thursday—just as the FTSE opens the week by hitting new record highs. After that, UK investors are looking to the Spring Statement and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast, both due March 3. (Source: OBR March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook)
