The FTSE 100 hit a new closing record on Thursday after investors continued to look for opportunities outside the US - but fell once again on Friday, along with the major European stock markets, as sellers sought safer havens across the weekend.
Surging prices in both gold and oil followed Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran, which has escalated the risk of war. Iran exports more than 1.5m barrels of oil a day and could impose an effective block on supply if they close the major shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.
Elsewhere, EU nations have been told their plans to expand nuclear energy capability will require almost €250bn (£213bn) in investment across the coming decades, while in the UK, businesses and consumers alike are waiting for key data next week on both inflation and interest rates.
The Independent brings you the latest business news and stock market updates from Friday.
Business and Money news - live updates
- Oil prices surge following Israel's attack
- FTSE 100 falls having closed at record high on Thursday
- Interest rates expected to pause cuts next week
FTSE 100 closes lower with US stocks also in the red
16:30 , Karl MatchettThe FTSE 100 closes lower ahead of the weekend, following Thursday’s record-setting end to the day.
A drop of around half a percent - more on the AIM and across the FTSE 250 - saw financials and airlines hit, but oil companies saw the other side of the coin, with barrels of Crude higher as well as gold.
Stateside, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are both in the red by more than half a percent after two hours of trading.
That’s it from us for this week, we’ll be back on Monday with the latest business and markets news - have a good weekend all.
Business news - live updates
Wednesday 11 June 2025 07:56 , Karl MatchettGood morning and welcome to our new live blog coverage of the UK’s business and stock markets news.
Every weekday, we’ll be bringing you market reaction, share price changes, company news and everything related to business and finance around the UK.
FTSE100 to open just shy of record high
Wednesday 11 June 2025 08:01 , Karl MatchettOn Tuesday, the FTSE 100 closed at 8853.08p - just shy of the all time high set in March, of 8871.31p.
The index did push beyond that mark during the day, before falling back somewhat in the late afternoon.
Perhaps today will be see the new high ushered in - but there’s lots to digest across the day before that’s the case.
Wednesday business watchlist: Rachel Reeves, Revolution Beauty and more
Wednesday 11 June 2025 08:11 , Karl MatchettHere’s a run-down of the headline events worth watching out for across the coming hours.
Wednesday financials are coming from (among others) Frontier Developments, Ibstock, Worldwide Healthcare Trust and Revolution Beauty.
The latter is notable as Frasers owner Mike Ashley has signalled that if a bid is forthcoming for Revolution Beauty, it will be an all-cash offer.
Its market value is now around £20m after a big slump this year.
Rachel Reeves’ spending review is the big focus of businesses and taxpayers alike today too - that’s coming at 12.30pm with a Treasury briefing sometime after 1pm.
We’ll also bring you the latest on currency exchanges, commodities and of course how the major markets are doing.
FTSE 100 and European markets open positively
Wednesday 11 June 2025 08:27 , Karl MatchettThe FTSE 100 has opened slightly in the green this morning, up 0.2 per cent thanks to a few of the financials starting strongly. Lloyds, Standard Chartered and Prudential lead the way, the latter up 2.3pc.
On the continent, France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX are both up around 0.16pc, with the Euro Stoxx 50 basically flat.
Evri tie-up with DHL’s UK parcel arm being probed
Wednesday 11 June 2025 08:30 , Karl MatchettEvri’s deal to merge with rival DHL’s UK parcel arm is being investigated by the UK competition watchdog as the tie-up promises to create one of the UK’s largest delivery firms.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will look into whether the deal could “result in a substantial lessening of competition” in the postal delivery sector.
It is initially gathering comments on the tie-up, with a deadline for submissions of June 25, before formally launching its investigation.
Evri tie-up with DHL’s UK parcel arm being probed by competition watchdog
What is Pisces? What you need to know about new UK stock market
Wednesday 11 June 2025 08:50 , Karl MatchettA new type of stock market will open in the UK later this year, allowing investors to trade shares in privately-owned companies — as opposed to those that are publicly owned and listed, for example on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Referred to as Pisces — which stands for a Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System — the first trading could begin on the new stock market in the next few months after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approved the rules around it.
The FCA hopes the move will support the UK economy by giving more choices to the investment community and attracting new funds for growing businesses.
Although Pisces has already officially launched, trading cannot begin until companies who will act as operators start their platforms, which are subject to licences.
With more companies choosing to stay private for longer, the new trading system was created to give investors access to businesses they otherwise could not fund, and to allow those holding shares in private businesses the chance to cash out.
That can be as a result of shares being given as part of an employment package, for example, or by being an investor in an earlier round of private fundraising — which isn’t always accessible to private investors.
To read more about Pisces and where it might sit in the UK’s investing landscape, read here.
US-China trade talks reach agreement "in principle"
Wednesday 11 June 2025 09:10 , Karl MatchettTwo days of talking in London has seen Washington and Beijing reach an agreement of sorts over a trade truce.
The US and China have agreed “in principle” over a framework and how to implement it.
That led to Asian markets rising overnight, the Hang Seng up 0.77% and the Nikkei 225 rising 0.55%.
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said: “The idea is we’re going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. They’re going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework.”
Rolls Royce win government contract for nuclear power stations
Wednesday 11 June 2025 09:30 , Karl MatchettRolls Royce expects thousands of jobs to be created after being selected by the government to build the first three SMRs - small modular reactors - in the push for nuclear power.
Shares in the company are up 57% across 2025 so far and hit an all time high during trading yesterday, before pulling back.
They are up more than 1.5%this morning to 849p per share.
Each SMR are expected to produce power for a million homes for 60 years.
Business news: KKR wins with £1.7bn Assura bid, Zara owner shares fall
Wednesday 11 June 2025 09:46 , Karl MatchettHere’s a quick roundup of this morning’s company news:
- Indetix, the owner of Zara and other clothing companies, has seen slowing growth and has concerns over uncertain economic conditions.
- Pub firm Fuller, Smith and Turner has posted a jump in pre-tax profits to £27m, while also announcing that long-serving chairman Michael Turner will retire in July.
- US private equity firm KKR, who recently pulled out of a deal with Thames Water, have won the race to buy Assura for £1.7bn. Assura is owner of more than 600 buildings, including NHS doctors’ surgeries.
Elon Musk admits he regrets posts over Donald Trump
Wednesday 11 June 2025 10:00 , Karl MatchettTesla owner Elon Musk has taken to his social media platform X to say he “regret[s] some of my posts about” President Trump.
Last week the pair got into what amounted to a petty slanging match worth billions of dollars.
Tesla shares are up 2.5% in pre-trading but remain down almost 20% in 2025.
Tesla poised for $24bn gain when US markets open
Wednesday 11 June 2025 10:20 , Karl MatchettRelated to Mr Musk’s latest social media posts or not, Tesla are set for an uplift this afternoon when US markets open.
Having surged more than 5% higher yesterday, the EV maker is set to open another 2.5% higher this afternoon - equivalent to around $24bn (£17.8bn) in market capitalisation for the trillion-dollar company.
Perhaps of more relevance to that uplift is Elon Musk revealing that Tesla’s self-driving robotaxis will be offered to the public from 22 June.
“The date could shift” due to safety matters still, he added - and later this month new Teslas will also self-drive themselves from factory to customer home for the first time.
Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal’ as she unveils spending plans
Wednesday 11 June 2025 10:40 , Karl MatchettRachel Reeves will vow to “invest in Britain’s renewal” as she reveals her spending plans for the coming years on Wednesday.
The Chancellor is expected to announce big increases in spending on the NHS, defence and schools as part of a spending review set to include £113 billion of investment thanks to looser borrowing rules.
She will also reveal changes to the Treasury’s “green book” rules that govern which projects receive investment in an effort to boost spending outside London and the South East.
Arguing that this investment is “possible only because of the stability I have introduced” after the October budget, Ms Reeves is expected to say her spending review will “ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities”.
Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal’ as she unveils spending plans
Alternative Investment Market hits milestone as more companies depart
Wednesday 11 June 2025 11:00 , Karl MatchettThe FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 are not the UK’s only markets of course - the AIM has long been a key arena for growing companies to thrive in, and for investors to seek outsized gains in by way of carrying more risk.
It is getting smaller though, but as as AJ Bell’s Dan Coatsworth points out, that isn’t necessarily all a bad thing.
“AIM turns 30 on 19 June and its celebrations have been overshadowed by the shrinking number of companies on the market. While it is natural to see the tail end disappear as tiny companies cannot justify the cost of being listed, and takeovers across the market continue with pace, there is an underappreciated trend elsewhere.
“The number of AIM companies shifting their listing to London’s Main Market so far in 2025 is near a three-year high and we’re not even halfway through the year.
“If all the intended companies complete their transfer in the coming months, it would be the same number of transfers so far this year as the total number of stocks moving from AIM to the Main Market across 2023 and 2024 combined.
“Importantly, this trend is not necessarily a negative factor. One could argue AIM was designed to act as a stepping stone to the Main Market and it’s a positive that companies feel they’ve reached a level of maturity to move to the premier league.
“Since 2004, AJ Bell calculates that 130 companies have moved from AIM to the Main Market. Many are now in the top tier indices and others have been taken over at a big premium to the market price.”
Commodities markets: oil up and gold steady
Wednesday 11 June 2025 11:24 , Karl MatchettGold is holding steady today, up just about a third of a percent, at $3354.
The price is tipped above $3400 a couple of times this year already, so we’re not quite at all time high territory, but after a 45% rise over the last year a little consolidation is no surprise.
Most analysts still expect it to rise higher towards $3800 later this year.
Meanwhile, silver is down 0.4% today, and crude oil is 1.4% up - continuing gains over the last month which now stand at 8%, having dropped as low as $57 in early May.
GBP to USD and EUR
Wednesday 11 June 2025 11:40 , Karl MatchettThe pound had slipped about 0.1% earlier today against the dollar, ahead of the chancellor’s spending review.
Over the last hour or so it has regained that ground though and remains effectively flat for the day now - £1 to $1.3499.
It continues to lose a little ground against the Euro however, 0.1% down at £1 to €1.18.
Female entrepreneur ‘absolutely humiliated’ after London Tech Week refuses entry for bringing baby
Wednesday 11 June 2025 11:50 , Karl MatchettA female entrepreneur was left feeling “absolutely humiliated” after she was refused entry to London Tech Week because she was with her 18-month-old daughter.
Davina Schonle had travelled for three hours to get to the event at Olympia, where she planned to meet potential suppliers for her new start-up AI company.
But on arrival on Monday, she said officials prevented her from entering with her daughter, Isabella, who was in a pram.
Full story here:
Entrepreneur ‘humiliated’ after London Tech Week refuses entry for bringing baby
Rachel Reeves confirms spending focus on health, security and economy
Wednesday 11 June 2025 12:59 , Karl MatchettChancellor Rachel Reeves is currently laying out her plan from the spending review.
Highlights and key points regarding business and the economy to follow next here, but for the full focus of Ms Reeves’ plan follow our political live blog here.
Spending review: Defence investment
Wednesday 11 June 2025 13:15 , Karl MatchettDefence remains high on the spending agenda.
Ms Reeves has pledged to make “make Britain a defence industrial superpower”, with spending to rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP by 2027.
Defence stocks have been on the rise this year, with Babcock International up 109% in 2025, BAE Systems up 62% and Rolls Royce up 56%.
The Independent’s Political Correspondent Millie Cooke said:
The uplift to Britain's defence spending "could not come at a more crucial moment", a TNT manufacturer has said, warning that the UK and Europe are "lagging dangerously far behind Russia, and access to munitions is deciding the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine".
Spending review - housebuilders benefit from £39bn affordable home drive
Wednesday 11 June 2025 13:21 , Karl MatchettGrants to support affordable housing to the tune of £39bn have been announced too.
The stated aims of 1.5m homes across the term of parliament have been suggested to be out of reach without further help.
The FTSE 100 housebuilders including Barratt Redrow, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey have all been up between 1.4 and 1.9 per cent today in anticipation of this boost.
Stock markets react to spending review
Wednesday 11 June 2025 13:54 , Karl MatchettIn terms of immediate change in the markets, the FTSE 100 has regained the morning ground lost over the past few hours to sit 0.24 per cent up, under three hours before trading closes.
8,871.31p is the all time high and we’re currently just above that at 8,875.11p, so today could see a closing record for the benchmark index.
The FTSE 250 and AIM are both up more than 0.3 per cent today.
US markets poised to open slightly higher
Wednesday 11 June 2025 14:03 , Karl MatchettFor much of the day US futures have suggested a lower opening - but that has changed in the past few hours.
The S&P 500 is set to open 0.3 per cent higher according to the latest numbers, with markets opening in about half an hour.
The Nasdaq is trading to open 0.4 per cent higher.
Here’s some comment on the spending review from Michelle Ovens CBE, the founder of Small Business Britain, who is also an adviser to the UK government's Board of Trade.
“The Spending Review today struck an optimistic note focused on growth and levelling up, which is welcome news to small businesses. Growth in R&D funding, AI training and broader training and upskilling spend are encouraging announcements for small businesses looking to take advantage of the changing landscape. In particular, I am pleased to see the recognition of the need for a step change in small business financing through the growth in funding for the British Business Bank. The stated goals of the Bank to support marginalised communities, and in particular female founders, is at the heart of our mission at Small Business Britain, and we look forward to supporting the Government in their work here.”
Andreas Adamides, CEO of Helm – a members network for founders of high-growth businesses - is similarly positive over the numbers, but cautions that real businesses are still struggling with previous changes.
“While this £86 billion investment is a game-changer for British innovation, we must not forget about the mid-market companies already driving our economy forward, even while battling increased costs like the recent employer NI rises.
“With unemployment rising as businesses face these additional burdens, we need this funding to work harder for the SMEs already creating jobs. The goal must be unlocking AI adoption for the thousands of fast-growing businesses ready to scale but locked out by complexity and cost.
“We need tangible solutions: AI deployment grants, streamlined pathways to access innovation clusters, and direct support for businesses ready to scale. Only when we bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical business application will Britain's productivity truly soar.”
Google offer to buy out staff in latest cost-cutting exercise
Wednesday 11 June 2025 14:58 , Karl MatchettGoogle are offering to buy out staff as part of their cost-cutting, say multiple reports including AP and the Wall Street Journal.
Some staff in Google's search, advertising, research and engineering units have been offered the voluntary exit programme, though it’s not certain how many are affected.
Layoffs started in 2023 and were then due to affect 12,000 people all told.
Shares in parent company Alphabet are up 0.4 per cent in early trading.
US stocks on the rise: Shopify, Warner Bros, Palantir, Tesla
Wednesday 11 June 2025 15:39 , Karl MatchettThe Nasdaq is up 0.43 per cent this afternoon after an hour’s trading - but some companies are looking much stronger in the market early on.
Shopify is leading the way on a 3.8pc rise, with Palantir hitting an all time high on the back of a 3.8pc increase themselves.
Starbucks, Warner Bros Discovery and Tesla are all well over 2pc higher too - the latter adding about $20bn in market cap to the company value today so far.
At the other end of the scale, Intel is down more than 4pc, T-Mobile down 2.3pc and the likes of Cisco, PepsiCo and CSX all down over 1pc so far.
Business headlines for Thursday: Halma, Tesco, UK trade and GDP
Wednesday 11 June 2025 16:02 , Karl MatchettWe’ll be wrapping up shortly so time for a quick look ahead to tomorrow and what we’ll be watching out for during the day:
Safety equipment firm Halma will be presenting their full year financial report, along with Young and Co brewery.
Meanwhile it’s Tesco’s turn for a trading announcement.
On the economics front, the latest figures for the UK GDP and the balance of trade will both be released by the ONS at 7am.
Meta set for $14.8bn deal for Scale AI stake
Wednesday 11 June 2025 16:08 , Karl MatchettSeveral reports are reporting that Scale AI, a US-based startup which essentially labels the data used to train AI models, is set to sell a 49 per cent stake to Facebook owner Meta.
The deal is for $14.8bn (£10.9bn) and will see co-founder Alexandr Wang take a senior role at Meta, leading a “superintelligence” lab department, say reports.
It would value Scale AI at around $30.5bn in total.
‘Painful’ budget measures likely, say economists as Chancellor lifts spending
Wednesday 11 June 2025 16:16 , Karl MatchettThe Government could have to announce “painful” fiscal measures in upcoming Budgets to balance the books after revealing fresh spending plans, economists have warned.
Experts have said tax increases are “almost inevitable” later this year in order for the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to meet her fiscal rules.
On Wednesday, the Chancellor set out how she plans to spend hundreds of billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, committing to growing departmental budgets and pumping more cash into the NHS.
She said previous tax increases – which included rises in company national insurance contributions in April – and looser borrowing rules have allowed higher spending on public services and increased investment.
However, Ms Reeves also stressed the Labour Government is committed to her recently-revised set of fiscal rules.
‘Painful’ budget measures likely, say economists as Chancellor lifts spending
FTSE 100 closes just below record high
Wednesday 11 June 2025 16:39 , Karl MatchettAn end-of-day dip means the FTSE 100 won’t quite reach a new high record today.
Despite a rise of about 0.14 per cent across the day, the closing level of 8,865p or so is a little under the 8,871p record.
Business news - Wednesday
Wednesday 11 June 2025 16:40 , Karl MatchettThat’s it for our rolling coverage of business and the markets for today - we’ll be back on Thursday morning from 8am. See you then.
Wednesday highlights:
- Rachel Reeves unveiled £600bn spending plan - defence and house builders among those to benefit
- FTSE 100 ended the day up 0.14 per cent, short of a new all time high
- Miner Fresnillo ended up 3.5 per cent higher; another miner Antofagasta finished 2.2 per cent lower in the index’s biggest movers.
Business news live - Thursday
Thursday 12 June 2025 08:03 , Karl MatchettGood morning, welcome to Thursday’s edition of the business live blog.
Coming up we’ve got all the day’s main lines from UK plc and around the stock markets, but the opening news is the UK economy shrinking by 0.3 per cent.
UK economy shrinks by 0.3 per cent
Thursday 12 June 2025 08:05 , Karl MatchettThe UK economy shrunk by more than expected in a major blow to Rachel Reeves, just one day after she unveiled her spending review.
The chancellor, who set out record investment in the Commons on Wednesday, acknowledged that the latest GDP figures were "clearly disappointing" but insisted her plan for the economy would help deliver growth.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3 per cent in April, compared with growth of 0.2 per cent the previous month and marking the biggest contraction since October 2023.
It was also worse than the 0.1 per cent contraction expected by most economists.
Blow for Rachel Reeves after UK economy shrinks by more than expected
Asian and US stocks down overnight
Thursday 12 June 2025 08:24 , Karl MatchettAfter trading up for most of the day, a dip late on saw US stocks end in the red for Wednesday, with the Nasdaq down 0.5pc, the S&P 500 down 0.27pc and the Dow basically flat.
Asia then followed in kind, the Nikkei 225 ending 0.65pc in the red and the Hang Seng down almost a full 1 per cent.
FTSE 100 flat in early trading
Thursday 12 June 2025 08:34 , Karl MatchettNot much market movement so far, following a big spending review yesterday and that economic news this morning.
The FTSE 100 is flat, with both the 250 and the AIM down around 0.3 per cent.
Halma has popped up eight per cent so far to help the FTSE 100 stay just about above the red - more on them coming now.
Halma shares soar 8% after 'record revenue and profit'
Thursday 12 June 2025 08:53 , Karl MatchettHalma, the FTSE 100 maker of safety equipment, has posted a bumper set of results which sent its share price flying 8.6 per cent in early trading.
CEO Marc Ronchetti lauded revenue growth of 11 per cent to £2.25bn and announced an increase of 7 per cent to the dividend - a 46th straight year of growing the shareholder payout.
Halma has a market cap of around £11.5bn and shares are trading at around £32.84 following the morning rise.
UK economic shrinking was 'inevitable' in April
Thursday 12 June 2025 09:00 , Karl MatchettA falling UK economy was “inevitable” in April, said Danni Hewson, AJ Bell head of financial analysis.
The UK showed 0.3 per cent decline in GDP with the services sector in particular declining 0.4 per cent.
“It’s hard not to look at today’s headline fall in economic growth as anything other than inevitable. Company after company had warned the chancellor that the decisions taken during last year’s Budget would impact business growth and create huge uncertainty about existing staffing levels,” Ms Hewson said.
“The latest jobs figures highlighted the fall in payrolled employees and rising unemployment earlier this week, and all those bill rises in April delivered another knock to consumer confidence, with the latest BRC retail sales figures showing spending on big ticket items has been reigned back.
“Rachel Reeves has said she is determined to deliver growth, and her spending plans have been given a cautious welcome by business groups up and down the country – but the caution speaks volumes.
“The next five months looks set to see the UK become something of a petri dish, where speculation and rumour fester as concern about rising debt levels feeds expectation that further tax hikes are inevitable.”
Poundland faces restructure after being sold
Thursday 12 June 2025 09:15 , Karl MatchettHigh street discount chain Poundland is set for a “restructuring” process after it was sold to investment firm Gordon Brothers.
The parent firm, Pepco Group, which has owned the brand since 2016, said it has completed the sale of the business for a “nominal” fee.
It comes after an auction by Poland-based Pepco to sell Poundland after a sharp downturn in trading over the past year.
Poundland’s more than 800 stores and roughly 16,000 employees will be transferred to the ownership of Gordon Brothers, which owns brands including Laura Ashley, as a result.
However, as part of the deal, Poundland is set to undergo a restructuring plan.
Poundland faces restructure after being sold for ‘nominal’ fee
Gold climbs after Trump's 'two weeks' claim on tariffs
Thursday 12 June 2025 09:40 , Karl MatchettDonald Trump last night said he’d be sending out letters to trade partners in two weeks, informing them of trade tariffs on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.
That has partly contributed to shares falling overnight and in Europe today, but it has also seen gold rise once more.
Gold is up around 0.8 per cent to $3,369.
Tesco remains dominant force in supermarket wars
Thursday 12 June 2025 10:00 , Karl MatchettFTSE 100 shares remain mostly flat, now just 0.07 per cent in the red, but Tesco is one of the London Stock Exchange-listed companies which is thriving this morning.
“Having narrowly missed closing at a new record high last night, the FTSE 100 held firm at the market open as strength in energy and tech was offset by weakness in banking shares,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Escalating tensions between the US and Iran helped oil prices to a two-month high and gave heavyweight stocks BP and Shell a lift. Precious metal miners were also in demand as investors sought out safe-haven gold-related stocks in the hope of protection against renewed uncertainties in the world.
“Tesco has successfully fought off discount rivals Aldi and Lidl and protected its dominant UK market position, yet at no point can it take its foot off the pedal. The moment Tesco relaxes is the point at which rival operators pounce on the opportunity to eat some of its lunch.
“Its first quarter trading update implies that Tesco is still at the top of its game, achieving moderate but resilient sales growth and continuing to grow its market share. There’s clear momentum in the business with sales of its premium products doing well, plenty of product innovation, non-food sales look encouraging, and it is now selling clothes online.”
DAX the biggest faller with European markets down
Thursday 12 June 2025 10:20 , Karl MatchettMost of the major European markets and indices are in the red this morning.
Germany’s DAX is the biggest faller, more than 1.0 per cent down so far, with France’s CAC 40 at 0.4 per cent in the red and the Ibex 35 0.7 per cent down.
The UK’s FTSE 250 is similarly half a percent down, but the FTSE 100 remains bolstered to the flat line by the likes of BT, BP, Halma and Tesco.
Mega caps keep spending on AI
Thursday 12 June 2025 10:45 , Karl MatchettAfter yesterday’s news that Meta are to buy a stake in Scale AI for almost $15bn, today two more tech behemoths are ready to fund further AI-related initiatives.
Much smaller scale this time, but Nvidia are reportedly investing $15m and Samsung $10m into Skild, a company which makes software for AI robots.
The push towards physical AI-related products, like robots, cars or other moving items, is increasingly seen as the next big driver for those firms who have made huge profits so far from chips and software behind AI models.
More City firms order workers back to office
Thursday 12 June 2025 11:00 , Karl MatchettThe re-rise of office work among financial companies continues to increase, with the FT reporting that Panmure Liberum has joined Deutsche Bank and UBS in telling staff they must choose Mondays or Fridays, or both, as at least one of three office-based days.
The move away from work from home flexibility has been particularly noticeable in City firms this year.
Peel Hunt have staff back in four days now.
HSBC reportedly has a shortage of a “few thousand” desks around the country as they get staff back to the office.
‘I was turned away from a major work event because I had my baby with me’
Thursday 12 June 2025 11:30 , Karl MatchettA female entrepreneur was left feeling “absolutely humiliated” after she was refused entry to London Tech Week because she was with her 18-month-old daughter.
Davina Schonle had travelled for three hours to get to the event at Olympia, where she planned to meet potential suppliers for her new start-up AI company.
But on arrival on Monday, she said officials prevented her from entering with her daughter, Isabella, who was in a pram.
The incident at the event, which was addressed by Sir Keir Starmer on the same day, has been widely condemned at a time when the tech industry tries to shake off its male-dominated tag.
‘I was turned away from a major work event because I had my baby with me’
Boeing shares fall after plane crash in India
Thursday 12 June 2025 12:00 , Karl MatchettOngoing news this morning is from India where a plane bound for Gatwick, London, has crashed.
For more news on that story, follow our live blog here.
Meanwhile, shares in Boeing have dropped 8 per cent in pre-market trading following the news.
The American airliner suffered a spate of issues last year but seemed to have turned a corner, the share price up 15 per cent in a year and 20 per cent year to date in 2025.
Boeing shares tumble after Air India plane crash
Thursday 12 June 2025 12:54 , Karl MatchettMore details on the Boeing share price from PA:
Shares in Boeing tumbled in pre-market trading on Thursday after one of its planes crashed shortly after taking off in India.
The US-based airplane manufacturer, which has been blighted by safety issues in recent years, saw shares drop as much as 8%.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft bound for Gatwick airport, carrying 242 people including 53 British nationals, appeared to explode after crashing shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.
Airline Air India said 169 passengers are Indian nationals, 53 are British, one is Canadian and seven are Portuguese.
EV charger firm Pod Point bought for £10m
Thursday 12 June 2025 13:20 , Karl MatchettEDF has bought up Pod Point, the company which owns more than a quarter of a million electric vehicle charging points, for around £10.6m.
The energy giant was already a stakeholder and said the buyout was the only reasonable way to let Pod Point continue as a viable business amid challenging conditions.
While Pod Point’s share price peaked at 275p after its 2021 IPO, EDF’s deal for it means a payment of about 6.5p per share.
FTSE 100 slightly up while European markets stay in the red
Thursday 12 June 2025 13:40 , Karl MatchettThe UK’s primary index, the FTSE 100, remains up by 0.13 per cent today, in contrast to the benchmarks in France and Germany which are down 0.6 and 1.0 per cent respectively.
Within the 100 on these shores, Halma (4.3pc), BT (2.96pc) and Tesco (2.86pc) are the biggest risers.
At the other end of the charts, airlines Easyjet and British Airways owner IAG are more more than 3.5 per cent down, as the wider airline industry watches on to events in India.
US stocks: Oracle to rise but futures show S&P 500 to open lower
Thursday 12 June 2025 14:00 , Karl MatchettA little while ahead of opening, caution and uncertainty around trade deals mean stocks are set to open lower in the US today.
The S&P 500 is down 0.3 per cent in pre-trading and the Nasdaq is 0.5 per cent down.
However, a few individual winners can be seen before the opening bell too.
Oracle are up more than 8.3 per cent after posting a better than expected earnings report last night and shares are now up close to last December’s highs.
Interest rates to get cut?
Thursday 12 June 2025 14:32 , Karl MatchettLast month the Bank of England cut interest rates to 4.25 per cent and most analysts at the time expected an ongoing one cut per quarter.
The economic landscape is quickly changing every week this year it seems, however, and analysts are mixed over whether next week’s MPC meeting will result in another cut.
Recent jobs and salary data are an indication that another cut is possible, but higher inflation figures than expected last time out put the case forward for staying higher, longer.
Financial markets are still just about pricing in two further cuts this year, down to 3.75 per cent.
A few words on oil prices from Zain Vawda, market analyst at MarketPulse:
“Oil prices surged yesterday ending the day with a 5.4 per cent gain on heightened geopolitical risk from the Middle East. A decision by the US to lighten embassy staff in Iraq and move personnel in the Middle East ahead of nuclear talks with Iran raised eyebrows.
“Today however, has seen Oil prices slide in European trade, down as much as 2.2 per cent at the time of writing, trading at 66.75 a barrel.
“A potential escalation with Iran could have massive implications for Oil markets. The biggest concern being a supply disruption as around 20 per cent of the world's Oil passes through the Straight of Hormuz.
“The narrow chokepoint could become a key area of focus in the event of regional tensions with Britain's maritime agency warning that rising tensions in the area could lead to more military activity, which might affect shipping in key waterways.
“From a technical analysis standpoint, oil broke a significant descending trendline which had been in play since January 2025. However the move only occurred on the back of US-Iran tensions.”
FTSE finds a new high
Thursday 12 June 2025 16:58 , Karl MatchettThe FTSE 100 has closed at 8884.92p, a new all time high for closing price.
It leaves the benchmark index up 8.7 per cent in 2025, following today’s 0.23 per cent gain.
That’s it for today’s news - thanks for joining and we’ll return again on Friday morning from 8am.
Business news live on Friday
07:50 , Karl MatchettGood morning and welcome to Friday’s edition of The Independent’s rolling coverage of business and stock markets news.
The FTSE 100 will open today from a record high closing price, set on Thursday at 8884.92p.
Falling stocks in the US in part led to that of late, but the perceived undervaluation of UK plc has been much spoken about over the last couple of years and both investors and other companies alike have been taking advantage, with share-buying and entire company-buying prevalent in 2025.
Let’s see where today takes us.
Business and stock markets news live
07:55 , Karl MatchettAs is usual, not too many companies are reporting on a Friday.
But of those that are, Lindsell Train Investment Trust reporting their finals will be of interest, given previous outflows and more recent suggestion that investors are returning to active, rather than passive, funds.
Energy firm SSE will also be filing their annual report.
And, if you happen to hold the likes of Unilever, Tritax Big Box REIT or insurance behemoth Admiral Group, you can expect a payment today - they’re all on the list of different dividend payers for Friday. Enjoy.
Oil prices surge after Israel attacks Iran
08:29 , Karl MatchettThe price of crude oil shot up early on this morning, following attacks by Israel on Iran which have escalated tensions and the risk of war.
Brent crude oil jumped to just under $76 a barrel before dropping back somewhat, now at $71.65 to show a 4.7 per cent rise.
Crude oil is still 5 per cent up having also hit $75 earlier.
FTSE 100 falls in morning trading
08:45 , Karl MatchettOn our European stock markets, there’s an awful lot of red around early this morning.
FTSE 100 -0.6 per cent
FTSE 250 -1.1pc
DAX -1.37pc
CAC 40 -1.19pc
Euro STOXX 50 -1.09pc
Gold prices on the march higher once more
09:01 , Karl MatchettOil isn’t the only commodity to be pushing higher on the news of Israel’s attack on Iran.
Gold futures showed a rise of more than 1.5 per cent earlier, before falling back to just over 1.0 per cent now, as investors once more seek safe havens.
Only yesterday, it was revealed that gold had overtaken the Euro as central banks’ second-highest means of creating reserves.
FTSE 100 shares: Oil stocks up, airlines down
09:20 , Karl MatchettThere are only about a dozen FTSE 100 firms showing positive trading so far this morning, chief among them the big oil duo and a handful of other energy and mining companies.
Defence firm BAE is the biggest riser, 2.63 per cent in the green, with BP (1.8pc), Shell (1.3pc) and Endeavour Mining (1.8pc) the only firms above one per cent so far.
At the other end - and there are plenty in the red - British Airways owner IAG and Easyjet are the biggest fallers, both down more than 3.5 per cent.
JD Sports, Schroders and InterContinental Hotels Group are all among those with falls of more than 2 per cent.
Analysts foresee interest rates paused at 4.25%
09:40 , Karl MatchettNext week the Bank of England’s MPC meets on Thursday to give its latest vote on the interest rate.
After being cut to 4.25 per cent, there were plenty who thought that would be that until autumn - but a softening labour market with higher unemployment, slowing wage growth and fewer vacancies gave pause for thought.
Inflation was higher in April than expected and that data for May will come in on Wednesday, just before the MPC decision.
But Barclays analysts expect the MPC will opt to hold interest rates this time around, predicting a 6-3 split in votes, against another 25bp cut.
They maintain expectation for quarterly cuts in August, November and February - taking the interest rate to 3.5 per cent by early 2026 if that’s the case.
Oil: Trump told Israel not to attack Iran
10:00 , Karl MatchettAs oil and gold prices climb amid Israel-Iran tensions, it has emerged that the US president’s thoughts were dismissed by the nation who launched last night’s attack.
President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran during a phone call on Monday, saying negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program should be allowed to run their course before military options were considered, according to a report.
Iran has since retaliated by launching more than 200 drones at Israel.
Read more on that report here:
Trump ‘told Netanyahu not to attack Iran’ days before Israeli airstrikes launched
Inflationary pressures may impact interest rates and taxes
10:20 , Karl MatchettThose oil price rises combined with other domestic events like Rachel Reeves’ spending review means rising UK taxes are inevitable and interest rates could even reverse direction, according to Gervais Williams, from investment manager Premier Miton.
European gas prices also went up at the fastest pace in a month after Israel’s attacks on Iran.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We’ve seen the oil price moving up and that is going to add to inflationary pressures unfortunately.
“It is likely that interest rates cuts will be less, or possibly even interest rate rises to come.
“I think there will be quite a lot of economic uncertainty and I think that will lead to a government shortfall, unfortunately, versus their spending review recently.
“I think that will lead to potentially, unfortunately, to additional UK tax rises later this year.”
GBP - USD rate could continue to rise
10:40 , Karl MatchettInvestment bank UBS is foreseeing a rise of the pound to dollar rate up to £1 - $1.38 in the second half of this year.
Following an almost 7 per cent increase in the past six months, it currently stands at $1.3560.
Early 2026 could see an even higher exchange rate, the bank said, pending further global economic conditions.
The FTSE 100 remains 0.4 per cent down this morning, with the 250 1.2 per cent in the red.
Rather than any reflection of company conditions or financials, this is largely the reaction to global events.
But the UK’s benchmark index hasn’t been as hard-hit as others this morning - with both ends of the see-saw visible in the companies featuring at the top end of the index on this occasion.
“The FTSE 100 did not have long to bask in the glory of reaching a new record close last night with Israel’s military strikes on Iran putting stocks on the back foot globally,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
“Concern about an escalating conflict in the Middle East saw oil hit its highest level since January and gold was also in demand for its safe haven qualities. After falls in Asia overnight and Europe this morning, futures markets are pointing to losses on Wall Street later too.
“The surge in crude provided FTSE 100 heavyweights BP and Shell with a boost which, along with gains for precious metals outfits Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo, spared the index from some of the heavier losses seen elsewhere.
“Airline stocks, predictably, were under pressure given the implications for fuel costs. Also in the aviation sector, Boeing shares were weak overnight amid the fall-out from the devastating Indian air crash involving one of its planes.
“Later we will get a fresh reading of US consumer sentiment, to see if the recent improvement, as tariff fears eased, has been sustained.”
Oil price rising at rapid rate after Israel strikes
11:20 , Karl MatchettWhile oil prices have dropped slightly from the early hours of this morning, they are still significantly higher following those strikes on Iran.
Steven Swinford, political editor at the Times, posted on X earlier today to detail exactly how notable the surges were.
“The price of oil has risen at the fastest rate in three years in the wake of Israel's attacks on Iran, with gains not seen since the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine,” he wrote.
“Brent crude has jumped by as much as 13 per cent to more than $78 a barrel – its biggest intraday gain since March 2022.”
Brent crude is now sat just under $73.
Gold price surpasses $3,440
11:43 , Karl MatchettGold is up more than 1 per cent today, hitting $3,460 earlier today before falling back very slightly, now sat around $3,442.
The safe haven has shot up by almost a third this year alone amid increased international turmoil, trade concerns and ongoing war situations.
It has also been increasingly bought by central banks as a reserve over the past few years.
The record price for gold was $3,500.05 in April.
US stocks set to open lower
12:00 , Karl MatchettFutures are pricing in US stocks starting in the red when markets open in a couple of hours.
The S&P 500 is set at 1.1 per cent down, though that has diminished slightly from earlier levels.
The Dow is around similar levels with the Nasdaq futures showing a 1.4 per cent drop on opening.
Among the biggest tech stocks, Tesla’s 2.5 per cent drop is the largest in futures trading.
India-made iPhones sent to the US over tariff concerns
12:45 , Karl MatchettCustoms data shows around 97 per cent of all iPhones made in India were sent to the US between March and May, far above the usual 50 per cent level, Reuters have reported.
Apple and other companies have had to make new plans around products coming from China due to President Trump’s tariff orders.
This week he said China faces a 55 per cent tariff, though that was initially far higher before talks resumed.
Stock markets: FTSE and European indices remain lower
13:04 , Karl MatchettNo midday uplift for European stocks today, with all the major markets and indices remaining down.
The FTSE 100 is faring slightly better than most, down 0.35 per cent, with the FTSE 250 down 1.16 per cent.
France’s CAC 40 is is down 1 per cent, Germany’s DAX down 1.45 per cent.
US futures show the S&P 500 set to open around 0.9 per cent down at present.
More candidates fighting for fewer jobs as businesses ‘hold back on hiring’
13:30 , Karl MatchettA new survey has revealed that the number of candidates available for jobs has increased at the fastest rate in over four years, according to recruiters.
The survey, conducted by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), indicated a further reduction in recruitment activity by companies in May.
Permanent placements decreased last month, while the availability of candidates increased at the quickest rate in nearly four-and-a-half years.
The report, which is based on data from 400 recruitment agencies, cited redundancies and fewer job opportunities as contributing factors.
More candidates fighting for fewer jobs as businesses ‘hold back on hiring’
US stocks drop after opening amid Israel-Iran tensions
14:45 , Karl MatchettAs expected, US stocks are lower after opening today, with the Dow bearing the brunt at 1.1 per cent in the red.
The Nasdaq is 0.8pc down and the S&P 500 0.67pc down, as investors watch warily at how matters escalate between Israel and Iran.
Donald Trump has urged Iran to make a deal “before there is nothing left”.
FTSE biggers gainers and fallers
15:16 , Karl MatchettLate into the afternoon session now and the FTSE 100 is down 0.5 per cent for the day all told, with the FTSE 250 down 1.0 per cent.
Within, as ever, are those who have bucked the trend.
BAE Systems is the biggest gainer of the day among the biggest benchmark index, 3.2 per cent up.
Schroders has suffered a 4.65 per cent drop to be the biggest faller, edging ahead of the airlines in that regard.
In the 250, Harbour Energy (+ 5.04 per cent) and Wizz Air Holdings (-5.57 per cent) are the outliers.
JP Morgan raise chances of oil crisis panning out
15:30 , Karl MatchettJP Morgan has raised its likelihood of a worst-case scenario of a global oil crisis, in the wake of Israel-Iran tensions.
Having previously sat at 7 per cent prior to Thursday, they now raise that to 17 per cent chance of playing out.
Their worst-case is described as “where supply impact extends beyond the reduction in Iranian oil exports and price reaction is exponential rather than linear”.
An attack on Iran could see oil rise to around $120 a barrel, they said - it’s around the mid-to-high 70s for most of today.
Will interest rates be cut next week? The key factors for the Bank of England and 2025 predictions
16:01 , Karl MatchettThe Bank of England’s (BoE) next meeting to determine interest rates is on Thursday 19 June, and all eyes will be on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and whether its members opt to continue lowering rates.
The base rate - currently at 4.25 per cent following cuts in February and May - impacts consumers and taxpayers through everything from their mortgages to savings, so what do experts foresee both next week and beyond?
Will interest rates be cut next week? Key factors and 2025 predictions
