Market News & Analysis

The bank’s brave face looks low on bravado.

The FTSE and most European gauges are firming up this morning, helped by a good session in Asia and a positive close on Wall Street Tuesday. President Trump seems for the time being to have softened his stance on the deadline for a deal on the Sino-US trade talks, infusing global markets with a light helping of optimism.

Honda didn’t cite Brexit for its decision to close a plant in the UK...

Despite the fairly positive global trading environment, lower-than-expected profits and plant closures in the UK are putting the FTSE under pressure this morning. In contrast, the promise of progress in US-China trade talks is lifting US markets and Asian stocks, which closed the day’s trade in Asia close to a four month high

After drifting lower throughout the morning, the FTSE quietly pared losses in the afternoon heading back towards the flatline, before falling again towards the close

Some positive noises from the US about progress in the US-China trade talks pushed Asian markets higher overnight but the optimism affected only some European markets. Britain’s unresolved Brexit path continues to hang over London share trading while German markets struggle with signals that the domestic economy is slowing down

RBS could scarcely have scrubbed up better in the final quarter of 2018

The government’s latest Parliamentary defeat brings deeper pain for sterling

Trade talk progress has been thrown aside as the market brings slowing growth fears back into the spotlight.

The FTSE and other European gauges are in positive territory this morning, still living off the optimism over the Sino-US trade talks sparked by President Trump’s comments earlier this week, which could see the truce on further tariff increases extended by another two months.

The stock’s 12% rebound so far this year looks vulnerable.