FTSE 100 Halts Yearly Rally
The FTSE 100 closed lower on Friday, ending the session down and slipping around 1% for the week, breaking its winning run for the year as losses in financial stocks outweighed gains elsewhere. HSBC, Barclays and Standard Chartered fell more than 1%, while Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest also declined, weighing heavily on the index. In contrast, energy stocks provided some support, with Shell and BP rising 0.6% and 1.6% respectively as crude prices rebounded from Thursday’s sharp drop. Mining stocks also advanced, with Fresnillo and Endeavour up around 2% as gold prices remained elevated. On the data front, S&P Global PMI figures showed UK private sector activity expanded in January at its fastest pace since April 2024, while retail sales rose 0.4% in December, beating forecasts. Consumer confidence also improved, reaching its highest level since August 2024.
DAX 40 Steadies on Friday, Posts Weekly Decline
The DAX 40 was little changed on Friday, but still ended the week down more than 1% amid tariff-driven turbulence. The index was supported by strength in selected industrial and technology names, with SAP rising about 4%, while Siemens Energy and defence group Rheinmetall gained more than 2%. On the other hand, Adidas tumbled over 6% and Zalando was down around 5%. Allianz fell nearly 2%, while Deutsche Bank lost about 1.6%, and automakers Mercedes Benz and BMW also declined. Investors digested stronger-than-expected economic data alongside signs of easing US Europe trade tensions. S&P Global PMI figures showed Germany’s private sector activity expanded at its fastest pace in three months in January, beating forecasts. The improvement was driven by a stronger services sector and a return to growth in manufacturing output, supported by rising new orders. Business confidence also improved sharply, reaching its highest level since February 2022.
