marketsClosed Dec 1, 2025
- The FTSE 100 skirts most of the declines across stock markets, which have started December in a risk-off mood, while UK bonds are falling and the pound is underperforming against major currencies
- Join the Markets Today team for news and analysis vital to UK markets. Email us at marketstoday@bloomberg.net
1h 6m ago
It’s been a downbeat start to December for global stocks, with the FTSE 100 ultimately turning lower towards the end of the session as defence stocks weighed.
The pound held steady and gilt yields rose slightly across the curve, though overall markets are pretty quiet three trading sessions since the chancellor’s tax-raising budget was revealed.
We’re still very much thinking about the autumn statement, though much of the attention is turning to the politics around it, which so far hasn’t had a big impact on UK assets.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the measures included in the budget, saying that she didn’t mislead voters over the state of the public finances. The OBR also published the preliminary findings of a probe into the accidental early publication of the budget report, and said that it was “worst failure” in its 15-year history.
That’s it for today. Join us here tomorrow for more market action, and we’ll be also running our Live Q&A where we’ll be answering your questions on the outlook for UK markets, the budget and much more.