The Indian rupee fell 13 paise to close at an all-time low of 88.81 against the US dollar on Tuesday, pressured by weak domestic equities and a firm dollar amid global risk-off sentiment, according to market sources.Forex traders said foreign fund outflows amid risk-averse global conditions further dented investor sentiment. However, a drop in crude oil prices and reports of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention supported the local unit and curtailed sharper losses, PTI reported.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 88.73 against the greenback, touched an intraday low of 88.82, and a high of 88.73 before settling at 88.81, down from the previous close of 88.68. On September 30, the rupee had touched 88.80, its previous all-time low.“The rupee… [was] pressured by broad-based dollar strength and weaker regional currencies. Sentiment remains fragile amid US-China trade uncertainty and risk-averse moods. However, the rupee has demonstrated resilience, consolidating in a narrow range over the past two weeks due to central bank intervention and foreign fund inflows. Near-term, spot USD/INR finds support at 88.50 and faces resistance at 89.10,” said Dilip Parmar, Senior Research Analyst, HDFC Securities.The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.10 per cent higher at 99.36. Brent crude futures fell 2.15 per cent to USD 61.99 per barrel.Experts noted that US-India trade tariffs remain a concern for investor sentiment. A senior official said a team of Indian officials will visit the US this week for trade talks, with the first tranche of a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aimed for conclusion between October and November 2025. Five rounds of negotiations have been completed so far.“A weak tone in global crude oil prices and FII inflows may favour the rupee. The US government shutdown and rising odds of a rate cut by the US Federal Reserve may further weigh on the US Dollar. USD/INR spot price is expected to trade in a range of 88.50 to 89,” said Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst, Currency and Commodities, Mirae Asset ShareKhan, PTI quoted.On the domestic data front, India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation eased to an eight-year low of 1.54 per cent in September from 2.07 per cent in August, falling below the RBI’s 2 per cent target. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation also cooled to 0.13 per cent in September from 0.52 per cent in August.Domestic equities also fell, with the Sensex dropping 297.07 points to 82,029.98 and the Nifty declining 81.85 points to 25,145.50. Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,508.53 crore on Tuesday, exchange data showed.

The FTSE 100 posted modest gains on Tuesday, outperforming European and US peers, while weak UK data put sterling under pressure.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.90 points, 0.1%, at 9,452.77. The FTSE 250 ended 36.14 points lower, 0.2%, at 22,028.18, and the AIM All-Share dropped 2.91 points, 0.4%, to 789.56.

The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in the three months to August, numbers showed.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the jobless rate was 4.8% in the three months to August, rising from 4.7% in the three months to July.

It had been expected to stay at 4.7%, according to consensus cited by FXStreet.

The ONS said payrolled employees in the UK fell by 93,000 on-year in August alone but did rise by 10,000 on-month.

In the early estimate for September, which the ONS warns is likely to be revised, payrolled employees fell by 100,000 on-year and by 10,000 on-month to 30.3 million.

Annual growth in regular earnings, so excluding bonuses, was 4.7% in the three months to August, easing from 4.8% in the three months to July. The figure landed in line with consensus.

Deutsche Bank’s chief UK economist Sanjay Raja said “one thing is clear, slack continues to build in the labour market”.

“Wage pressures are easing on the back of softening labour market and hiring plans remain stalled,” he added.

“Bottom line, we continue to think that a [fourth quarter 2025] rate cut may be underpriced by markets. We hold on to our view for a December 2025 rate cut.”

Citi said the jobs and wage growth figures add to its conviction that Bank of England meetings in November and December are “live”.

“Inflation data next week will be an important test with an undershoot likely to trigger further repricing towards an additional cut this year,” the broker said.

Elsewhere, a leading policymaker at the Bank of England warned that there is a “rising” risk that the UK economy could see a “more forceful downturn” because of higher borrowing costs.

Alan Taylor, a member of the central bank’s nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee, said there was a small but growing chance that the UK will witness negative growth and “recession dynamics start to kick in”.

He cautioned that it is “increasingly likely” that the UK economy will fall into a “weakened state for a sustained period”, with inflation sliding below target levels.

He said he believes this could lead to “undue damage” to economic activity in the UK.

The pound was quoted lower at 1.3294 US dollars at the time of the London equity market close on Tuesday, compared to 1.3331 US dollars on Monday.

The euro stood at 1.1591 US dollars, higher compared to 1.1569 US dollars. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at 151.83 yen, lower compared to 152.30 yen.

In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris closed down 0.2%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended 0.6% lower.

Stocks in New York were down at the time of the London close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2%, the S&P 500 was 0.5% lower, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.9%.

Wall Street’s drop came despite strong third quarter results from investment banks JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Citi, which all beat market expectations.

Citi climbed 1.2%, but JPMorgan fell 2.0% and Goldman Sachs dropped 2.8%.

JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon cautioned: “There continues to be a heightened degree of uncertainty stemming from complex geopolitical conditions, tariffs and trade uncertainty, elevated asset prices and the risk of sticky inflation.”

The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was quoted at 4.05%, widened from 4.04% at the time of the London equities close on Monday. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury stood at 4.64%, stretched from 4.62%.

On the FTSE 100, easyJet climbed 8.0% as Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported shipping firm Mediterranean Shipping is among those mulling investing, or taking full control of the budget carrier.

MSC is working in tandem with an investment fund, Corriere said, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

EasyJet is “landing on the desks of several individuals” interested in investing in it, Corriere reported.

Bookmaker Entain climbed 1.8% as its US joint venture BetMGM reported a strong third quarter, with first-half momentum continuing and full-year guidance raised.

Owing to the strong performance full-year net revenue guidance for BetMGM was lifted to at least 2.75 billion US dollars from 2.7 billion US dollars, and Ebitda is now anticipated at approximately 200 million US dollars, from at least 150 million US dollars.

But IMI fell 0.9% as RBC Capital Markets lowered to “sector perform” from “outperform”.

The downgrade reflects “valuation, rather than a fundamental change in our view”, RBC analyst Mark Fielding explained, noting IMI is a “high quality” business.

He pointed out IMI shares are up 26% year-to-date while he also feels the firm cannot avoid some impact from wider end market uncertainties.

On the FTSE 250, Mitie jumped 14% as it upgraded operating profit guidance and launched a new £100 million share buyback, following solid first-half revenue growth and continued progress with the integration of its recent Marlowe acquisition.

Housebuilder Bellway firmed 5.3% after announcing a £150 million share buyback and reporting a 21% increase in annual pre-tax profit as revenue climbed 17%.

But Morgan Advanced Materials dropped 6.6% after its second downbeat trading update in three months, warning of increasing uncertainty in European industrial markets.

Gold traded at 4,141.29 US dollars an ounce on Tuesday, up from 4,093.56 US dollars on Monday. Brent oil traded at 61.87 US dollars a barrel, down from 63.40 US dollars late Monday.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were easyJet, up 37.2p at 501.2p, Persimmon, up 30.0p at 1,199.0p, Berkeley Group, up 94.0p at 4,034.0p, Next, up 250.0p at 12,635.0p and Centrica, up 3.15p at 173.0p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Spirax, down 285.0p at 6,645.0p, Anglo American, down 84.0p at 2,915.0p, Croda, down 76.0p at 2,662.0p, Antofagasta, down 69.0p at 2,758.0p and Weir Group, down 54.0p at 2,794.0p.

Wednesday’s global economic diary has inflation data in China overnight, eurozone industrial production figures and the US Beige Book.

Wednesday’s UK corporate calendar has a trading statement from recruiter PageGroup and bingo and casino operator Rank.

Contributed by Alliance News

Halloween thrill-seekers are transforming October into a peak month for theme parks, with Merlin Entertainments revealing the period now rivals August for profitability.

The owner of major attractions including Thorpe Park and Alton Towers states October now accounts for approximately a fifth of its yearly profit.

Fiona Eastwood, Merlin’s boss, emphasised the growing importance of the autumn season, stating October is “as significant” as the peak summer season for the attractions giant, which also operates Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor.

At Thorpe Park in Surrey, renowned for its Fright Nights since 2002, October now generates nearly half (46 per cent) of its annual profit.

The park even saw October visitor numbers surpass August in 2024, welcoming a third more guests than in the traditional summer peak.

Last year, October contributed almost a fifth of annual visitor numbers and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of revenues at the attraction.

Similarly, Alton Towers in Staffordshire benefits significantly from its Scarefest programme. October now contributes 27 per cent of its annual earnings and 16 per cent of total revenue.

The park anticipates welcoming more than 440,000 visitors throughout this month alone.

Ms Eastwood said: “From the launch of Fright Nights at Thorpe Park in 2002 with just two scare mazes, to now delivering Halloween experiences right across our estate, we’ve transformed this occasion into a defining moment in our trading calendar.

“We’ve turned Halloween into a focal point that captures the imagination across generations and is now as significant as the peak summer season, and in some cases even more so.”

Outside of the UK, the firm’s Heide Park Resort in Germany saw the highest share of Halloween across Merlin’s European estate last year.

It comes as Halloween becomes a key event in the calendar for Britons, with the UK rapidly catching up with the grand-scale celebrations seen in America each year.

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Merlin said its rides in the dark remain among the most popular attractions, with guests citing night-time experiences as a key reason for visiting its theme parks over the Halloween season.

But Ms Eastwood said its immersive experiences are also drawing in visitors.

UK attractions such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are expanding their Halloween programmes this year to offer more immersive, age-inclusive experiences which aim to “blend excitement with seasonal storytelling”.

Halloween experiences for this year include a new maze at Thorpe Park and two new attractions at Alton Towers – Trick O’ Treat Town and Amigos of the Afterlife.