FTSE 100 Live: Index Rebounds to 10,436 as RELX and Rolls-Royce Lead Gains

The FTSE 100 opened higher, recovering from the previous session’s weakness after touching the 10,500 mark for the first time to trade 34.05 points up at 10,436.49. 

Gainers Drive Early Momentum

RELX advanced 3.51% to £2,124, while Rolls-Royce gained 2.00% to £1,250.50 as investors returned to cyclical names. 

Halma rose 1.44% to £3,796, 3i Group added 1.29% to £3,311, and Experian climbed 1.16% to £2,436. 

Among others, London Stock Exchange Group also moved higher by 1.14%, helping to support the broader index and offset macro-driven volatility.

Laggards Cap Broader Upside

DCC fell 2.22% to £5,075, while Croda slipped 2.27% to £3,062 dragging the index in early trade. 

Coca-Cola HBC declined 1.14% to £4,668, Spirax Group eased 0.97% to £7,685, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners edged lower by 0.96% to £7,250. 

Games Workshop also traded 0.54% down to £16,560. The mixed performance suggests selective buying.

NatWest in Focus After Results

NatWest shares were broadly flat at £593 following the release of annual results that exceeded expectations. 

NatWest guidance for this year includes total income in the range of £17.2-£17.6 billion. 

This follows an increase of £1.8 billion to £16.4 billion in 2025, which was supported by deposit margin expansion as a result of higher customer balances and the impact of hedging against interest rate volatility. 

The bank reported a Return on Tangible Equity of 19.2%, ahead of forecasts of 18.5%, and outlined 2026 targets above 18%. 

Despite the strong numbers, investor sentiment remains cautious after the lender’s £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners and its decision to pause share buybacks. 

UK Fintech Zempler Bank’s Valuation Slashed 

London-based fintech Zempler Bank has been snapped up by Nigeria’s biggest bank in a deal that slashed the firm’s valuation. 

The fintech formerly known as Cashplus has been acquired by The Access Bank UK with a price tag of around £3.45 per share. 

The sale represents a cut for Zempler, which netted a valuation of £80m in its 2020 fundraising round. 

The raise had priced shares at just over £9, with Access’ acquisition taking a chop to the fintech’s value.

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Macro Backdrop

In the US, the S&P 500 index lost 1.6% and the Nasdaq Composite shed 2%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished 1.3% lower amid fears over AI-led valuations.

The selling continued in Asia trading hours as the Nikkei 225 fell 1.2%.

Retail data showed that UK shopper footfall declined 0.6% year-on-year in January, an improvement from December’s 2.9% fall, offering tentative signs of stabilisation in consumer activity. 

Meanwhile, gold steadied at $4,952 per ounce following recent volatility, and Brent crude held near $67.46 per barrel.