The FTSE 100 gained 4.86 points to 9221.73 on Friday morning, supported by miners and a handful of company updates, as investors awaited crucial US labour market figures that could shape the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. Let’s take a quick look at the latest update on our FTSE 100 live today.
Among notable risers on the UK blue-chip index, Melrose Industries advanced 2.53% to £615.20, reflecting ongoing confidence in its aerospace and industrial divisions. Babcock International also added 2.25% at £1,092, underpinned by steady defence contracts.
Gaming operator Entain climbed 2.15% to £854.40, while Ashtead Group, a leading equipment rental business, gained nearly 1.9% at £5,488. Banking heavyweight HSBC rose 1.84% to £979.10, continuing a positive run for financials.
Housebuilder Berkeley Group saw shares edge higher by £44 to £3626 after reiterating earnings guidance of £450 million for the year. The firm reported stable trading in line with expectations, with around 85% of profits already secured through exchanged contracts.
The FTSE 100’s modest gain was underpinned by 1% advances across mining giants Rio Tinto, Glencore, and Anglo American. On the downside, banking group NatWest slipped 1.1% to £512.2, while supermarket chain Tesco weakened to £436.
In the FTSE 250, emerging markets specialist Ashmore fell 5% after investors reacted to annual results, while AIM-listed broker Peel Hunt surged 11% to £112.5 on stronger M&A activity, prompting an upgraded outlook.
Investor sentiment is largely driven by expectations surrounding US monetary policy. Later today, the closely watched non-farm payrolls report is expected to show payroll growth of 75,000 and an uptick in unemployment to 4.3%.
Markets widely anticipate that signs of labour market weakness will bolster the case for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut on 17 September.
Analysts remain cautious, however, given recent revisions that downgraded earlier job figures. Barclays Private Bank’s Julien Lafargue noted that while markets are leaning toward rate cuts, only a much stronger-than-expected jobs print would disrupt expectations.
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On the domestic front, Halifax reported that UK house prices edged up 0.3% in August to a record average of £299,331. Northern regions outperformed, with annual growth of 4.7% in the North East and 4.5% in the North West, compared with a modest 0.8% growth in London.
Meanwhile, July retail sales rose 0.6%, beating forecasts of 0.2%. Clothing sales were buoyed by good weather and the Women’s Euro 2025 tournament.
With Wall Street closing higher overnight and Asia following suit, the FTSE 100 looks set to hold its gains. Gold continues to trade at record highs of $3556 an ounce, reflecting persistent demand for safe-haven assets ahead of key US economic data.