Tag: UK Inflation

  • FTSE 100 Opens Higher Ahead of Fed Decision as UK Inflation Rises; Brent Crude Slips

    FTSE 100 Opens Higher Ahead of Fed Decision as UK Inflation Rises; Brent Crude Slips

    The FTSE 100 opened 37.01 points higher at 10,695.14 on Wednesday, as investors awaited UK inflation data and the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Meanwhile, Brent crude futures fell 1.01% to USD 107.7 per barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined 1.48% to USD 104.2 per barrel.

    Sterling was quoted at USD 1.3488 early Wednesday, slightly higher than USD 1.3485 at the London equities close on Tuesday. Against the euro, sterling rose to EUR 1.1682 from EUR 1.1681 a day prior.

    Gainers & Losers

    On the upside, Barratt Redrow climbed 7.56% to 297.30p. Persimmon advanced 3.37% to 1,135.50p, while Antofagasta gained 3.26% to 3,615p. Fresnillo rose 3.23% to 2,943p, Endeavour Mining added 2.77% to 4,564p, and NatWest Group increased 2.35% to 705.40p.

    On the downside, Unilever fell 1.45% to 4,574p. Admiral Group declined 0.87% to 3,854p, while Reckitt Benckiser Group dropped 0.79% to 5,026p. London Stock Exchange Group slipped 0.71% to 8,142p, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners lost 0.59% to 7,640p, and Next edged 0.48% lower to 14,620p.

    Babcock Maintains Full-Year Guidance

    Babcock International reaffirmed its full-year guidance, citing strong momentum across its marine, nuclear and land businesses. The company said trading during the first five months of fiscal 2027 remained in line with expectations.

    Analysts expect Babcock to post fiscal 2027 sales of GBP 5.49 billion and underlying operating profit of GBP 464 million, up from GBP 5.19 billion and GBP 293 million a year earlier.

    Barratt Redrow’s Pre-tax Profit Jumps

    Barratt Redrow surged as the company released its FY2026 full-year results, posting adjusted profit before tax of GBP 572.8 million, higher than the analyst consensus of approximately GBP 540 million.

    The company also announced a GBP 400 million capital return to shareholders, to be delivered through share buybacks.

    The profit beat was supported by total home completions rising 5% to 17,667 for the year, net cash at year-end reaching GBP 772 million, and the company achieving GBP 100 million in Redrow integration synergies while cutting administrative expenses to GBP 330 million.

    UK Inflation Rises

    UK consumer price inflation rose to 3.1% in August from 2.9% in July, in line with analysts’ forecasts, but remained above the Bank of England’s 2% target.

    The Office for National Statistics recorded a 0.5% monthly rise in prices, compared with 0.3% a year earlier. CPIH, which includes owner-occupier housing costs, accelerated to 3.3% from 3.1%.

    Petrol prices rose 9.1p during August to an average of 161.3p a litre, their highest since November 2022, while diesel climbed 14.2p to 181.8p.

    Core CPI was unchanged at 2.6%, while services inflation remained at 3.4%.

    Global Market View

    In the US, Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday as rising oil prices and government bond yields weighed on equities. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, the Dow Jones declined 0.6% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.8%.

    In Asia on Wednesday, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.69% to 63,923, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.71%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.20%, and South Korea’s Kospi edged up by 1.37%. In India, both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex rose by 0.55% and 0.53%, respectively.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research before making any financial decisions.

  • UK Inflation Reaches 3.1% in August as Fuel Costs Surge Ahead of Bank of England Rate Decision

    UK Inflation Reaches 3.1% in August as Fuel Costs Surge Ahead of Bank of England Rate Decision

    UK inflation climbed to 3.1% in August, up from 2.9% in July, marking its highest level in five months. The increase, driven by higher petrol, diesel, and airfare prices, matched economists’ forecasts and came just one day before the Bank of England’s (BoE) September policy meeting.

    Fuel Prices Drive August Inflation Higher

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that transport made the largest upward contribution to the annual inflation rate. Motor fuel prices rose sharply, with petrol increasing by 9.1 pence per litre between July and August, while diesel prices climbed by 14.2 pence per litre over the same period.

    Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: “Sharp price rises for petrol and diesel pushed inflation up again in August.” He added that higher long-haul airfares also contributed. Crude oil and fuel costs further raised manufacturers’ raw material and factory-gate prices.

    Core and Services Inflation Remain Stable

    Despite the headline rise, measures closely watched by the Bank of England held steady. Core CPI, which excludes energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, remained at 2.6% for the fourth consecutive month. Services inflation also stayed at 3.4%.

    Neither measure accelerated in August, even as fuel costs pushed the headline rate above 3%. ONS labour data released earlier in the week showed regular pay growth at 3.5% in the three months to July, close to its weakest pace since 2020.

    Bank of England Prepares for Rate Decision

    The Bank of England will announce its interest-rate decision on September 17. Bank Rate currently stands at 3.75% after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6-3 in July to keep borrowing costs unchanged. Three members had supported a quarter-point increase to 4%.

    Financial markets were pricing in about a 20% chance of a quarter-point increase at the September meeting, according to Reuters. Charlotte O’Leary of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said: “With limited evidence of second-round effects so far, we expect the MPC to hold rates tomorrow.” The BoE has identified energy prices as a key risk to inflation.

    At its July meeting, the Bank noted that energy prices had remained volatile since the Middle East conflict began. It stated that policy would depend on the scale, duration, and wider transmission of the energy shock.

    Producer Prices Add Pressure to Outlook

    Price pressures were stronger at the manufacturing level. Producer input prices rose 6.1% in the year to August, up from a revised 5.8% in July. Factory-gate output prices increased 3.7%, compared with a revised 3.3% increase a month earlier.

    The rise in inflation also comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government prepares for an October 28 budget. Chancellor John Healey said the Middle East war was affecting inflation across countries, feeding into household bills, shopping costs, and fuel prices. Official records show Burnham became prime minister on July 20, with Healey taking over as chancellor on the same date.

    Further increases in household energy bills could push headline inflation higher in the coming months because regulated domestic prices respond to wholesale energy costs with a delay. Goldman Sachs expects UK inflation to peak at 3.9% in early 2027. The BoE’s 2% inflation target remains the benchmark, while policymakers continue to track wages, services prices, and business costs for signs of pressure.

  • FTSE 100 Rises Above 10,598 Despite UK Inflation Data; Brent Crude Jumps to $94.22

    FTSE 100 Rises Above 10,598 Despite UK Inflation Data; Brent Crude Jumps to $94.22

    The FTSE 100 traded 12.33 points higher at 10,598.24 on Wednesday, defying cooler-than-expected UK inflation data that boosted the likelihood of near-term Bank of England rate cuts. Investors weighed rising oil prices and ongoing US-Iran tensions, with Brent crude futures surging 3.53% to $94.22 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gaining 3.53% to $87.32 per barrel.

    Gainers and Losers

    Top gainers:

    • Endeavour Mining: +2.34% to £36.37
    • Fresnillo: +1.29% to £25.99
    • Shell: +1.15% to £32.92
    • Admiral Group: +1.13% to £35.78
    • Reckitt Benckiser: +0.75% to £49.75
    • AstraZeneca: +0.45% to £125.48

    Top decliners:

    • Games Workshop Group: -2.43% to £196.50
    • London Stock Exchange Group: -1.86% to £84.40
    • Halma: -1.72% to £35.54
    • Experian: -1.52% to £26.59
    • Next: -1.51% to £147.25
    • Pershing Square Holdings: -0.95% to £37.54

    Mulberry Narrows Losses

    Mulberry reported a sharp reduction in annual losses and a return to revenue growth, with trading accelerating into the new financial year. Pre-tax losses narrowed to £8.9 million from £32.2 million, as revenues grew 4% to £125.5 million. Growth accelerated to 11% in the second half. The company swung to positive EBITDA of £0.8 million, compared with a £16.8 million loss a year earlier.

    Bloomsbury Expects Cash from Anthropic Settlement

    Bloomsbury, the publisher of Harry Potter, expects a significant payout from the $1.5 billion settlement paid by Anthropic following a copyright dispute. The firm will receive $3,000 for each of its 14,087 books included in the claim, putting it in line to take as much as $42 million (£32 million). Settlement payments will begin in the second half of this financial year. Bloomsbury shares jumped 1.5% to £652 at Wednesday’s market open.

    Fresnillo’s Gold Production Declines

    Fresnillo reported a decline in gold production in the first half of the year, despite an increase in the second quarter. The miner saw a 7.3% fall in production in the six months to end of June, while second-quarter volumes were up 13.8% compared to the first quarter. The firm stated it will continue to focus on efficiency, cost control, and consistent volume performance. Fresnillo shares have fallen by almost a quarter since the start of the year.

    Global Market Overview

    In the US, stocks closed sharply higher, with semiconductor stocks leading the Nasdaq to a 1.3% gain to 25,837. The S&P 500 rose 0.9% to 7,509, and the Dow Jones added 0.7%. In Asia on Wednesday, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.18% to 66,115.6, while China’s Shanghai Composite advanced 0.07%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.13%, and South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.74%. In India, both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex fell by 0.84% and 0.97%, respectively.