Today: The FTSE 100 Index, frequently known as the Footsie, is the UK’s benchmark inventory marketplace index, representing the 100 biggest corporations indexed at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) with the aid of using marketplace capitalization.
It’s a barometer of financial overall performance now no longer simply in the UK however globally, as lots of its elements are multinational giants like Shell, Unilever, BP, HSBC, and AstraZeneca.
In 2025, hobby in the FTSE 100 has surged as retail investors, institutions, and analysts intently reveal its overall performance amidst international financial shifts, imperative financial institution decisions, inflation, hobby charge changes, and geopolitical events.
FTSE 100 Today – Live Overview (7 April 2025)
As of seven April 2025, the FTSE 100 is buying and selling at 7,924.seventy six points, displaying a 0.42% advantage at the day. The marketplace opened on a high quality note, boosted with the aid of using stepped forward investor sentiment following Bank of England’s dovish stance on destiny hobby charges and stabilizing power fees.
Open: 7,890.24
High: 7,942.15
Low: 7,879.12
Previous Close: 7,891.05
Top Movers Today (April 7, 2025)
Top Gainers:
Rolls-Royce Holdings (+3.4%) – Continued energy in aerospace and protection spending.
BP (+2.7%) – Rebounding oil fees after OPEC’s cutting-edge manufacturing replacement.
Ocado (+2.5%) – Positive profits wonder and AI integration news.
Barclays (+2.1%) – Strong Q1 lending report.
Top Losers:
Tesco (-1.8%) – Mixed retail income replacement and issues over customer demand.
Persimmon (-1.5%) – UK housing slowdown worries.
Burberry (-1.2%) – Luxury slowdown fears in China.
Key Market Drivers in 2025
1. Interest Rate Decisions
The Bank of England’s latest selection to preserve hobby charges constant at 4.25%, with a touch of an ability reduction in mid-2025, has prompted investor optimism. Lower charges generally tend to reinforce fairness markets, specifically dividend-heavy FTSE shares.
2. Global Inflation Trends
Inflation in the UK has dropped to 3.1%, towards the BoE’s target. Declining power and meals prices were the principal contributors. A softer inflationary surroundings reduces stress at the imperative financial institution and improves company margins.
3. Energy Sector Volatility
Oil fees have rebounded, helping BP, Shell, and different power majors in the FTSE 100. As power shares make up a massive part of the index, rate moves in crude oil without delay have an effect on basic index overall performance.
4. Geopolitical Risks
Tensions in the Middle East and change coverage shifts among China and americaA maintain to affect international fairness markets. Investors flip to protecting UK shares in the course of volatility.
5. Corporate Earnings Season
Early Q1 2025 profits reviews have in large part beat expectations, specially in financials, pharma, and industrials, giving a bullish push to the FTSE 100.
Popular FTSE 100 Stocks to Watch in 2025
1. Shell (SHEL.L)
With a marketplace cap over £170 billion, Shell keeps to guide the FTSE 100 in weight. Its overall performance is tightly connected to grease fees, inexperienced power investments, and dividend reliability.
2. AstraZeneca (AZN.L)
A robust performer post-pandemic, AstraZeneca has advantages from international healthcare demand, R&D innovation, and pipeline drugs.
3. HSBC Holdings (HSBA.L)
One of the biggest banks in the world, HSBC is gaining on hobby charge tailwinds, robust Asia operations, and virtual banking transformation.
4. Unilever (ULVR.L)
The customer massive is specializing in rising marketplace increase and sustainable product lines, which might also additionally yield long-time period returns.
FTSE 100 vs Global Indices in 2025
FTSE 100 (UK):
As of early April 2025, the FTSE 100 is up about 4.2% year-to-date. It’s taking advantage of easing inflation, an ability to reduce charges with the aid of the Bank of England, and robust performances in the power and monetary sectors. However, its increase is greater conservative in comparison to US indices because of confined tech exposure.
S&P 500 (USA):
The S&P 500 has risen around 7.9% in 2025, pushed with the aid of persevered investor enthusiasm for AI, tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft, and optimism about the Federal Reserve’s soft-touchdown scenario.
DAX (Germany):
Germany’s DAX index is up around 3.5%, supported with the aid of solid export hobby and a rebound in European commercial manufacturing. However, power prices and Eurozone uncertainty have stored profits modestly.
Nikkei 225 (Japan):
Japan’s Nikkei 225 has received approximately 5.4% in 2025 so far. It’s buoyed with the aid of a susceptible yen, robust export overall performance, and persevered stimulus from the Bank of Japan. Tech and production shares have led the charge.
Hang Seng (Hong Kong):
The Hang Seng Index has proven combined overall performance in 2025 because of issues over China’s financial slowdown, belongings quarter debt, and regulatory uncertainty. While a few healing is visible, investor sentiment stays cautious.
Shanghai Composite (China):
The Shanghai Composite is experiencing flat-to-slightly-bad returns, with a year-to-date motion soaring round -1% to 0%, reflecting sluggish financial healing and tightening economic policies.
CAC forty (France):
France’s CAC forty has received approximately 4%, taking advantage of solid customer spending and enhancing company profits in the luxury, industrials, and pharmaceutical sectors.
How to Invest in the FTSE 100 (2025 Guide)
1. FTSE 100 ETFs
iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (ISF)
Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (VUKE)
These budgets tune the index and are best for passive investors.
2. FTSE 100 CFDs and Spread Betting
Offered with the aid of using structures like IG, CMC Markets, and eToro.
Suitable for short-time period investors trying to capitalize on volatility.
3. Individual Stocks
Investors can also cherry-select out shares in the FTSE 100 primarily based totally on quarter possibilities and private threat tolerance.
Expert Predictions for FTSE 100 in 2025
UBS Forecast:
Predicts FTSE 100 to attain 8,200 with the aid of using Q4 2025 pushed with the aid of using fee cuts and company income increase.
Goldman Sachs:
Remain careful however sees fees in UK fee shares, particularly banks and miners.
Highlights robust dividend yields of 4-6% amongst FTSE shares as a middle enchantment for long-time period investors.
FTSE 100 vs FTSE 250: What’s the Difference?
FTSE 100: Large-cap groups, greater stable, much less increase.
FTSE 250: Mid-cap groups, greater home exposure, better increase potential.
In 2025, the FTSE 250 has barely outpaced the FTSE 100 because of home financial resilience.
Looking Ahead
The FTSE 100s stays one of the most vital fairness indices globally, supplying perception into the United Kingdom and global company health. While it lacks the tech aptitude of Wall Street, it excels in protective and dividend-wealthy shares, making it a cornerstone of long-time period portfolios.
FAQs
What is the very best degree the FTSE 100 has ever reached?
The FTSE 100’s all-time high became 8,014.31, executed in February 2023. It is presently drawing close to this degree once more in 2025.
How frequently does the FTSE 100 rebalance?
The index is reviewed quarterly (March, June, September, December). Companies can be brought or eliminated primarily based totally on marketplace cap.
Is now an excellent time to shop for FTSE 100 ETFs?
If you are aiming for long-time period returns, FTSE 100s ETFs are appealing because of valuation, stability, and dividends. Consider pound-value averaging if markets are volatile.
How is the FTSE 100 calculated?
It’s a marketplace capitalization-weighted index, that means large groups have more of an impact on the index movement.
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