Business
FTSE 100 edges up ahead of Trump-Zelensky talks
The FTSE 100 made steady progress on Monday ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington.
The gathering is a follow-up summit to Mr Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which failed to produce a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.
Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone said Friday’s meeting turned out to be a “damp squib”, yielding “nothing by way of concrete progress.”
It “seemed to pretty much be a meeting about having another meeting to arrange more meetings, all while not achieving much,” Mr Brown quipped.
“While Zelensky and Trump will meet today, and that may bear some fruit, I shan’t be holding my breath,” he added.
The FTSE 100 index closed up 18.84 points, 0.2%, at 9,157.74. The FTSE 250 ended down just 8.67 points at 21,749.57 while the AIM All-Share finished 0.59 of a point higher, 0.1%, at 761.16.
In Europe, the CAC 40 in Paris fell 0.6%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt closed down 0.2%.
In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1%, the S&P 500 was 0.1% lower, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2%.
Investors are also focused on a speech this week by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell at the annual retreat of global central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Markets hope Mr Powell will provide more clues about the Fed’s plans for interest rates when it meets next month, after data last week provided a mixed picture about inflation.
Consumer inflation remained steady last month, but producer prices accelerated.
But JPMorgan said while “highly anticipated, it is useful to recall that several recent Jackson Hole speeches by Fed chairs did not break new ground or send clear policy signals”.
“We don’t think Powell can firmly guide toward easing at the next meeting,” it added.
The pound eased to 1.3517 dollars late on Monday afternoon in London, compared to 1.3566 dollars at the equities close on Friday. The euro dipped to 1.1667 dollars, lower against 1.1712 dollars. Against the yen, the dollar was trading a touch higher at 146.96 yen compared to 146.90 yen.
The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was at 4.35%, widened from 4.31%. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury was 4.95%, stretched from 4.90%.
In the UK, a report showed consumer sentiment improved a little in August, though it remained in negative territory.
The S&P Global UK consumer sentiment index advanced to 47 points in August from 45.1 points in July, still below the neutral 50-point mark.
It was the highest figure since last October’s UK government budget announcement, meaning a 10-month high.
Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “August CSI data comes hot on the heels of the recent rate cut decision made by the Bank of England earlier in the month. Data collection began just a day after the central bank’s announcement, providing a timely snapshot of sentiment in the wake of monetary policy easing.
“Encouragingly, the data reveals a slight revival in household confidence, which is a telling sign that the easing of monetary policy has been received positively by households across the country. The headline index signalled the strongest reading since last October, greatly bolstered by robust perceptions of labour market conditions, which were the second-strongest in the survey’s history.”
On the FTSE 100, defence stocks Babcock International rose 5.0% and BAE Systems climbed 1.7% amid the Ukraine-Russia uncertainty.
Babcock received an added boost as RBC Capital Markets started coverage with an “outperform” rating and 1,200p per share price target.
The broker flagged Babcock’s strong management team, improved earnings quality and conservative guidance as reasons for upside.
On the FTSE 250, boot maker Dr Martens led the way, up 8.3% as Peel Hunt upgraded to “buy” from “add”.
The broker thinks Dr Martens is making clear progress under new management and believes the shares have not yet factored in the potential for the firm to move back into growth.
But Close Brothers led the fallers, down 3.7% as RBC downgraded to “sector perform” from “outperform” after the strong rally in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on motor finance.
On AIM, Pantheon Resources leapt 16% after it said results from an appraisal well in Alaska exceeded expectations, highlighting the “enormous potential” in the firm’s portfolio.
Pantheon said the Dubhe-1 pilot hole was successfully drilled, logged and cored to a total measured depth of 12,833 feet.
Analysis of the thickness and quality of the primary target topset confirmed that the SMD-B zone has exceeded the upside pre-drill expectations.
Chief development officer Erich Krumanocker said: “We are delighted to announce the Dubhe-1 pilot hole results as a success. The well confirms the presence and quality of the oil and gas reservoirs in the Ahpun field, exceeding our pre-drill expectations.”
A barrel of Brent fell to 66.07 dollars late Monday afternoon from 66.33 dollars on Friday. Gold ebbed to 3,334.83 dollars an ounce against 3,343.39 dollars.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Babcock International, up 52p at 1,047p, Standard Chartered, up 34.5p at 1,340p, BAE Systems, up 30.5p at 1,790.5p, British American Tobacco, up 62p at 4,260p and Beazley, up 10.5p at 789p.
The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Glencore, down 11.5p at 288.2p, Centrica, down 3.95p at 162.8p, Berkeley Group, down 80p at 3,712p, Anglo American, down 39p at 2,131p and Mondi, down 18p at 1,053p.
Tuesday’s local corporate calendar has full-year results from miner BHP Group and half-year results from hybrid workspace provider, International Workplace Group.
The global economic calendar on Tuesday has Canadian inflation figures.
Pritti MistryBusiness reporter, BBC News
FordThe first electric vehicles (EV) eligible for the £3,750 discount under the government’s grant scheme have been announced.
The Department for Transport confirmed Ford’s Puma Gen-E or e-Tourneo Courier would be discounted as part of plans to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Under the grant scheme, the discount applies to eligible car models costing up to £37,000, with the most environmentally friendly ones seeing the biggest reductions. Another 26 models have been cleared for discounts of £1,500.
Carmakers can apply for models to be eligible for grants, which are then automatically applied at the point of sale.
More vehicles are expected to be approved in the coming weeks and the DfT said the policy would bring down prices to “closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts”.
The government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars from 2030.
But many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an EV and some have told the BBC that the UK needs more charging points.
According to Ford’s website, the recommended retail price (RRP) for a new Puma Gen-E starts from £29,905 while a petrol equivalent is upward of £26,060. With the reduction applied, buyers would be looking in the region of £26,155 for the EV version.
The grants to lower the cost of EVs will be funded through the £650m scheme, and will be available for three years.
There are around 1.3 million electric cars on Britain’s roads but currently only around 82,000 public charging points.
Full list of EVs eligible for the £1,500 discount
- Citroën ë-C3 and Citroën ë-C3 Aircross
- Citroën ë-C4 and Citroën ë-C4 X
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Citroën ë-Berlingo
- Cupra Born
- DS DS3
- DS N°4
- Nissan Ariya
- Nissan Micra
- Peugeot E-208
- Peugeot E-2008
- Peugeot E-308
- Peugeot E-408
- Peugeot E-Rifter
- Renault 4
- Renault 5
- Renault Alpine A290
- Renault Megane
- Renault Scenic
- Vauxhall Astra Electric
- Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- Vauxhall Grandland Electric
- Vauxhall Mokka Electric
- Volkswagen ID.3
The up-front cost of EVs is higher on average than for petrol cars.
According to Autotrader, the average price of a new battery electric car was £49,790 in June 2025, based on manufacturers’ recommended prices for 148 models.
The equivalent for a petrol car was £34,225, but the average covers a broad range of prices.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant scheme was making it “easier and cheaper for families to make the switch to electric”.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers “frequently tell us that the upfront costs of new EVs are a stumbling block to making the switch to electric”.
“It is great to see some of these more substantial £3,750 discounts coming online because for some drivers this might just bridge the financial gap to make these cars affordable.”
Business
Donald Trump tariffs: Why did Nifty50, BSE Sensex tank in trade? Top reasons stock for market fall – The Times of India
Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, crashed in trade on Thursday, a day after Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India came into effect. While Nifty50 closed at 24,500.90, down 211 points, BSE Sensex ended at 80,080.57, down 706 points or 0.87%.The newly imposed tariffs emerged as the main factor affecting market performance, whilst investors simultaneously grappled with additional challenges, including unfavourable global market indicators and continuous withdrawal of foreign investments. These factors collectively intensified the market decline, causing the benchmark indices to fall further.The severe downturn resulted in BSE-listed companies losing Rs 4.14 lakh crore in market capitalisation, bringing the exchange’s total market value down to Rs 445.80 lakh crore.
Why did the stock market fall today? Top reasons
50% US tariffs on IndiaThe new 25% additional tariffs from Washington on Indian goods became effective on Wednesday, creating uncertainty for exporters and overall market sentiment.Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, believes these duties will affect equities temporarily but shouldn’t cause widespread concern.“The 50% tariff imposed on India, which has already come into effect, will weigh on market sentiments in the near-term. But the market is unlikely to panic since the market will view these high tariffs as a short-term aberration which will be resolved soon,” Vijayakumar said, noting US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant’s statement that “at the end of the day India and US will come together.”Additionally, Vijayakumar identified high valuations and poor earnings performance as ongoing issues. He expects export-focused industries to experience short-term difficulties, whilst suggesting investors consider moving towards reasonably priced domestic consumption sectors. He recommends transitioning from volatile small-cap investments to more stable large-cap consumer stocks for better risk management.FII sell-off continuesForeign institutional investors extended their selling momentum for the third consecutive session. Exchange data showed that on August 26, FIIs sold shares valued at over Rs 6,500 crore. Conversely, domestic institutional investors emerged as net buyers, investing Rs 7,060 crore.The selling pattern has affected multiple sectors. In early August, FIIs withdrew approximately Rs 31,900 crore across eight sectors, with financial and technology sectors experiencing the highest outflows. Net equity sales reached Rs 20,976 crore in the first half of the month, following July’s withdrawals and pushing the total outflows for the year to Rs 1.2 trillion.Earlier this month, Jefferies reported that foreign portfolio investor presence in India had reached its lowest level in a decade. Despite consistent domestic inflows providing support, analysts suggest that any market recovery could remain unstable.Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments emphasised the importance of domestic institutional support. “The strong pillar of support to the market is the aggressive buying by DIIs flush with funds,” he noted, explaining that domestic investments are helping balance the foreign outflows.Global markets in redAsian markets displayed weakness on Thursday as investors weighed Nvidia’s exceptional earnings against growing worries regarding the company’s business interests in China.The MSCI Asia-Pacific index, excluding Japan, fluctuated throughout the session before declining 0.2%. Similarly, US stock futures declined during extended trading hours, with S&P 500 e-minis dropping 0.2% and Nasdaq futures declining 0.4%. Despite reporting outstanding results, Nvidia’s shares retreated as uncertainties persisted over its Chinese operations amidst ongoing US-China trade tensions.Japanese markets showed volatility following news that Tokyo’s chief trade representative cancelled a planned visit to Washington, postponing discussions about a recently concluded trade agreement. The Nikkei 225 registered a 0.4% increase. In contrast, Hong Kong’s market performance weakened, with the Hang Seng Index recording a 1% decline.Market sentiment further deteriorated following US political developments, as President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. This decision raised questions about the central bank’s autonomy, although Cook has indicated her intention to legally contest the dismissal.Technicals show market weaknessTechnical indicators suggest market weakness ahead, although some strategists anticipate a potential short-term recovery.At Geojit Investments, Chief Market Strategist Anand James observed bearish conditions, identifying 24,071-23,860 as target levels. He acknowledged that the sharp 2% drop over four sessions could spark a recovery, with 24,780 and 24,870 acting as resistance points. “Inability to float above 24,630 or clear 24,900 will signal that bears continue to have the upper hand,” he said.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Business
Stock Market Updates: Sensex Slides 700 Points, Nifty Below 24,550; IT, Realty Stocks Under Pressure
Last Updated:
Domestic equities are trading under pressure on Thursday, with export-focused stocks facing headwinds
Sensex Today.
Sensex Today: Indian equities extended losses on Thursday, August 28, as markets digested the impact of fresh 50% tariffs on US exports that came into effect a day earlier.
At 1:30 PM, the BSE Sensex was down 562 points, or 0.70%, at 80,224, while the Nifty50 fell 163 points, or 0.66%, to 24,549.
Shriram Finance, HCL Tech, Infosys, Sun Pharma, Tata Motors, TCS, Power Grid, Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Trent, Jio Financial, and M\&M led the Nifty losers. On the other hand, Titan, Adani Ports, Asian Paints, Larsen & Toubro, Eternal, and Bajaj Finance bucked the weak trend.
The new duties, among the steepest in Asia, follow India’s continued imports of Russian crude oil and have strained ties between New Delhi and Washington. Shares of export-oriented sectors such as apparel, textiles, auto parts, engineering goods, gems & jewellery, shrimp, and carpets were in focus.
In the broader markets, the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices shed 0.9% each. Volatility also inched up, with India VIX down 0.9%.
Sectorally, IT and Realty indices slipped over 1% each, while all major sectors ended in the red barring Consumer Durables, Metals, and Oil & Gas.
Global Cues
In contrast, most Asian benchmarks were trading higher, tracking overnight US gains before a late pullback. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.3%, while South Korea’s benchmark gained 0.3%, leading advances on the MSCI Asia Pacific index.
Meanwhile, US futures slipped in Asian trading after chipmaker Nvidia’s sales outlook missed lofty expectations, hinting at a slowdown in AI-driven growth after years of strong momentum.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 gained 0.24% and the Nasdaq rose 0.21%, both closing in positive territory.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
Read More
US tariff blow puts Indian MSMEs on the brink
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
GameDay Kickoff: Expectations for Jeremiah Smith, LSU-Clemson and more ahead of Week 1
-
Business1 week agoRSS Feed Generator, Create RSS feeds from URL
-
Tech1 week agoKorea develops core radar components for stealth technology
-
Fashion1 week agoTariff pressure casts shadow on Gujarat’s textile landscape
-
Fashion1 week agoRent the Runway to swap debt for equity in revival effort
-
jobs1 week agoData Analyst at Easy Agile – Australia
-
Fashion1 week agoUS retailers split on holiday prospects amid consumer caution
-
Tech1 week agoQi2’s Magnetic Wireless Charging Finally Arrives on Android
-
Sports1 week ago
Dan Quinn says Terry McLaurin is healthy, ‘closer’ to Commanders return