DAILY ROUNDUP - Pre-Market Open London stocks are set for a broadly flat start on Friday, with the FTSE 100 called fractionally higher at around 10,816 after an impressive 1.2% gain on Thursday, as investors digest an increasingly hawkish message from the Bank of England and another major central-bank move in Japan. The Bank held rates at 3.75% by six votes to three, but several policymakers signalled that the case for tighter policy is building if the prolonged Middle East conflict continues to push energy prices and inflation higher, with Governor Andrew Bailey warning that policy may have to tighten. Overnight, the Bank of Japan raised rates by 25 basis points to 1.25%, their highest level in more than 30 years, helping the Nikkei rise 1.7%, while Shanghai and Hong Kong both gained 0.9%. Wall Street also enjoyed a strong session, with the Dow up 0.6%, the S&P 500 gaining 1.2% and Nasdaq climbing 1.7%. Sterling traded around $1.3363 and €1.1638, gold strengthened to approximately $4,374 an ounce and Brent eased slightly to around $103.54 a barrel. Attention now turns to UK retail sales this morning, alongside German producer prices, eurozone construction output and US industrial production later in the day.

DAILY ROUNDUP - Pre-Market Open London stocks are set for a firmer start on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 called around 17 points higher at 10,706 after gaining 0.3% on Wednesday, as attention shifts from the Federal Reserve to today’s Bank of England decision. The Fed delivered its first rate increase in more than three years overnight, unanimously lifting the federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.75–4.00% as it seeks to bring elevated inflation back towards its 2% target, with policymakers indicating one further increase this year before rates remain unchanged through 2027. Wall Street reacted negatively, with the Dow falling 1.2%, the S&P 500 down 0.5% and Nasdaq marginally lower. The Bank of England is expected to leave Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% at midday, while sterling weakened to around $1.3382 but edged higher against the euro at €1.1672. Asian markets were mixed, with Japan up 0.2% and Australia 0.3% higher, while Shanghai fell 0.3% and Hong Kong lost 1.1%. Gold eased to around $4,297 an ounce, while Brent remained above $105 a barrel. Geopolitical and trade tensions remain firmly in focus after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs or restrictions on trade with Europe in response to proposals for closer EU-Canada cooperation, while investors will also be watching eurozone inflation, US jobless claims and building-permit data later today.

DAILY ROUNDUP - Pre-Market Open London stocks are set for a firmer start on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 called around 30 points higher at 10,689 after closing 0.4% lower on Tuesday, as investors brace for a major day of economic data and central-bank action. UK inflation takes centre stage first, with annual CPI expected to accelerate to 3.1% in August from 2.9% in July and monthly inflation forecast at 0.5%, while producer prices and RPI are also due. Attention then turns firmly to the Federal Reserve and its latest interest-rate decision later today, alongside US retail sales and trade-price data. Wall Street finished lower overnight, with the Dow down 0.6%, the S&P 500 off 0.5% and Nasdaq falling 0.8%, while Asian markets were more positive, with Japan up 0.3%, Shanghai gaining 0.7%, Hong Kong adding 0.2% and Australia 0.3% higher. Sterling traded around $1.3488 and €1.1682, while gold strengthened sharply to $4,329 an ounce and Brent remained elevated at around $108 a barrel. Geopolitical risk remains firmly in focus, with the US Congressional Budget Office estimating the conflict with Iran had already cost the US military around $38bn by the start of August and could add another $2–3bn for every month it continues.