Market News Feed
AI Daily 5 entries
LONDON MARKET CLOSE: US tech malaise, mining deal flop weigh on FTSE
- London Stocks Slump: FTSE 100 closed down 0.9% at 10,309.22, FTSE 250 down 1.0% at 23,103.35, and AIM All-Share down 1.4% at 802.90, tracking US and European declines.
- Bank of England Decision: Held bank rate at 3.75% by a 5-4 majority, with Governor Andrew Bailey pivotal in the decision. Bailey noted disinflation is ahead of schedule but emphasized further wage and service price inflation reductions are needed.
- Rate Cut Expectations: Markets now see a 60% chance of a BoE rate cut in March, with Bailey and Catherine Mann’s votes considered crucial for the March meeting.
- European Central Bank: Kept rates unchanged, with analysts noting a hawkish undertone, suggesting a high bar for future rate cuts.
- US Markets: Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq declined sharply due to tech stock falls and weak labor market data, including a drop in job openings to 6.542 million in December.
- Tech Stocks Under Pressure: Alphabet fell 4.2% despite strong results, and Qualcomm slumped 7.3% after disappointing earnings.
- London Performers: London Stock Exchange gained 5.5% on strong Tradeweb results, while Sage and Relx rallied 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively.
- Currency Movements: Sterling fell to USD1.3536, euro slightly lower at USD1.1791, and dollar strengthened against the yen to JPY156.96.
- Rio Tinto-Glencore Merger Collapse: Talks ended as Rio Tinto deemed no agreement would deliver value to shareholders, while Glencore felt undervalued in the proposed terms.
- FTSE 100 Movers: Biggest risers included London Stock Exchange, GSK, Sage, Experian, and Relx. Biggest fallers were Glencore, NatWest, Fresnillo, Lloyds Banking Group, and Hikma Pharmaceuticals.
- Commodities: Gold down to USD4,848.34/ounce, silver dropped 14% to USD75.60/ounce, and Brent oil stable at USD67.37/barrel.
- Upcoming Data: Friday’s calendar includes Canadian jobs data, French trade figures, and the Halifax house price index report in the UK.
LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Pound falls as BoE holds rate in split decision
- Stock Market Update (5th Feb 2026, 12:16):
- FTSE 100 down 0.2% at 10,385.98, paring losses after Bank of England's rate decision.
- FTSE 250 down 0.7% at 23,170.60; AIM all-share down 0.5% at 810.64.
- Cboe UK 100 down 0.3%; Cboe UK 250 down 1.1%; Cboe small companies up 0.1%.
- European equities mixed: CAC 40 up 0.2%, DAX 40 down 0.1%.
- US stocks called mixed with small moves; Dow marginally lower, S&P 500 and Nasdaq slightly higher.
- Bank of England Decision:
- Interest rates held at 3.75% in a split 5-4 vote.
- Four members voted for a 0.25% rate cut to 3.5%.
- CPI inflation expected to fall to 2% target from April due to energy price developments.
- Pay growth and services price inflation easing; risks of inflation persistence decreasing.
- Further rate cuts likely, but timing depends on inflation outlook.
- Currency Movements:
- Sterling down to USD1.3564 from USD1.3656.
- Euro slightly lower at USD1.1792; Dollar higher against yen at JPY157.14.
- Corporate News:
- Fresnillo shares down 3.1% after Berenberg cut rating to 'hold'.
- Shell shares down 1.0% due to weaker earnings, despite dividend increase and unchanged buyback.
- Anglo American shares down 1.3% despite meeting copper and iron ore production estimates.
- Ithaca Energy shares up 5.4% on higher production capacity and investor payout plans.
- Tern shares up 22% on investee Device Authority's new customer win.
- Commodities:
- Gold down to USD4,873.90/ounce.
- Brent oil up to USD68.59/barrel.
- Political Developments:
- UK PM Keir Starmer apologizes for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador, citing ignorance of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Growing pressure on Starmer and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney from Labour MPs over Mandelson scandal.
- Upcoming Events:
- ECB rate decision at 13:15 GMT.
- US trade balance and jobless figures later today.
LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Berenberg cuts Fresnillo; Citi cuts Babcock
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- 5th Feb 2026 09:48
- The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Thursday morning and on Friday:
- FTSE 100
- Jefferies raises Rentokil Initial price target to 540 (475) pence - 'buy'
- Jefferies cuts Beazley to 'hold' (buy) - price target 1,310 (982) pence
- Berenberg raises Phoenix Group price target to 918 (852) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs raises Phoenix Group price target to 761 (752) pence - 'neutral'
- JPMorgan raises Phoenix Group price target to 620 (605) pence - 'underweight'
- JPMorgan raises HSBC price target to 1,190 (1,060) pence - 'neutral'
- JPMorgan raises Standard Chartered target to 2,170 (1,880) pence - 'overweight'
- Barclays raises Coca-Cola HBC price target to 4,900 (4,700) pence - 'overweight'
- Barclays raises Airtel Africa price target to 350 (330) pence - 'overweight'
- Berenberg cuts Fresnillo to 'hold' (buy) - price target 3,800 (3,400) pence
- Bernstein raises National Grid price target to 1,420 (1,300) pence - 'outperform'
- Citigroup cuts Babcock International to 'neutral' (buy) - price target 1,554 (1,338) pence
- Goldman Sachs raises GSK price target to 1,830 (1,740) pence - 'neutral'
- FTSE 250
- Citigroup raises B&M European Value Retail price target to 180 (165) pence - 'neutral'
- Barclays raises Watches of Switzerland target to 645 (640) pence - 'overweight'
- Goldman Sachs raises Watches of Switzerland price target to 590 (575) pence - 'buy'
- UBS cuts Watches of Switzerland price target to 540 (555) pence - 'neutral'
- SMALL CAP
- Berenberg cuts Kerry Group price target to 99 (107) EUR - 'buy'
- Deutsche Bank Research cuts YouGov price target to 370 (438) pence - 'buy'
- Related Shares:
- ` (unordered list) tags.
LONDON MARKET OPEN: FTSE 100 falls from record before BoE decision
- London Stock Market: Opened lower on 5th Feb 2026, 09:15, with FTSE 100 down 0.4%, FTSE 250 down 0.6%, and AIM all-share down 0.3%, as investors await UK and European interest rate decisions.
- European Equities: Mixed performance with CAC 40 up 0.1% and DAX 40 down 0.2%.
- Currency Movements: Sterling slightly weaker at USD1.3603, euro slightly higher at USD1.1802, and dollar stronger against the yen at JPY157.04.
- Interest Rate Expectations: Bank of England and European Central Bank both expected to hold rates unchanged, with focus on ECB President Christine Lagarde’s press conference.
- Asian Markets: Nikkei 225 down 0.9%, Shanghai Composite down 0.6%, Hang Seng up 0.1%, and S&P/ASX 200 down 0.4%.
- US Markets: Mixed close on Wednesday with Dow up 0.5%, S&P 500 down 0.5%, and Nasdaq down 1.5%.
- Commodities: Gold lower at USD4,897.50/ounce, Brent oil higher at USD68.27/barrel.
- Corporate Updates:
- Vodafone Group: Shares down 4.7% despite starting EUR500 million share buyback; Q3 revenue up 6.5% to EUR10.5 billion.
- Compass Group: Shares down 2.9%; Q1 organic revenue growth of 7.3%, reaffirmed 2026 guidance.
- Playtech: Shares up 6.4% after raising 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance to at least EUR195 million.
- Seeen: Shares up 13% after signing partnership with Bromley FC for smart video solutions.
- Upcoming Economic Data: UK construction PMI and eurozone retail sales figures before interest rate decisions.
LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: FTSE 100 to fall before rate decisions
Market Summary - 5th February 2026, 06:55
- London Stocks: FTSE 100 set to open lower by 14.8 points (0.1%) at 10,387.54, after closing at a record high of 10,402.34 on Wednesday.
- Currencies: Sterling down to USD1.3615, Euro lower at USD1.1790, Dollar higher against Yen at JPY156.88.
- Interest Rate Decisions: Focus on UK and Europe, with the Bank of England expected to hold rates at 3.75% and the ECB maintaining the deposit rate at 2.00%.
- Analyst Insights: Pepperstone's Michael Brown predicts a 6-3 vote for steady rates in the UK, with potential cuts in March, and the ECB's easing cycle likely over.
- US Markets: Mixed close on Wednesday, with Dow up 0.5%, S&P 500 down 0.5%, and Nasdaq down 1.5%.
- Asian Markets: Nikkei 225 down 0.9%, Shanghai Composite down 0.6%, Hang Seng down 0.2%, and S&P/ASX 200 down 0.4%.
- Alphabet Earnings: Q4 net income up 30% to USD34.46 billion, revenue up 18% to USD113.83 billion. Capex to nearly double in 2026 to USD175-185 billion.
- Commodities: Gold higher at USD4,924.40/ounce, Brent oil up to USD68.13/barrel.
- UK Corporate Calendar: BT (Q3 results), Vodafone (trading statement), Anglo American (trading update), Shell (full-year results).
- Global Economic Calendar: UK and Europe interest rate decisions, Eurozone retail sales, and construction PMIs.
All Market News Today 462 headlines
MLHL
13:45
Malibu Life Holdings Limited
0MGD
13:12
Jyske Bank A/S
SPI
13:11
Spire Healthcare Group Plc
PCTN
13:10
Picton Property Income Ltd
BLND
13:08
British Land Company PLC
GTE
10:31
Gran Tierra Energy Inc
TTE
08:03
TotalEnergies SE
CREI
06:01
Custodian REIT PLC
MLHL
06:01
Malibu Life Holdings Limited
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DirectorDealing 15 headlines
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NewContract 3 headlines
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TR1 53 headlines
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Updates 28 headlines
MLHL
13:45
Malibu Life Holdings Limited
MLHL
06:01
Malibu Life Holdings Limited