The UK 10-year gilt yield stood at 4.5% as investors digested signs of accelerating price pressures. Data from the British Retail Consortium showed shop prices rose 1.5% year on year in January, the sharpest increase since February 2024 and well above market expectations of 0.7%. The reading has revived concerns over persistent inflation, potentially limiting the Bank of England’s scope to cut interest rates in the coming months. Meanwhile, broader market sentiment remained cautious after US President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on South Korean goods, following similar warnings to Canada and Europe. Investors are also eyeing the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision on Wednesday, with rates expected to stay unchanged amid speculation that a more dovish successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell could be announced.
