Live Updates > Live Update Details
2025-09-18 19:47:51
FTSE 100 Index Slightly Higher] ⑴ The FTSE 100 index rose slightly on Thursday as investors digested policy moves from multiple central banks. The Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 4% and slowed its government bond sales, particularly reducing the intensity of its sales of long-term bonds. ⑵ In the US, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected, but emphasized that it would not quickly enter an easing cycle. It also continued to project two more rate cuts this year due to a weakening job market. ⑶ Regarding exchange rates, a stronger dollar boosted the performance of large multinational companies. However, retailer Next's share price plummeted nearly 4%, dragging down the index. Although the company reported a 10% increase in sales and a 14% increase in profits in the first half of the year, both exceeding expectations, it maintained its full-year guidance and warned that growth would slow in the second half of the year due to weak employment and a slowing UK economy. However, the company also announced a dividend increase.
