Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleLondon's FTSE stalls after a four-week rise as US-China trade talks in London dominate. FTSE 250 rises 0.6% amid market caution.
By Purvi Agarwal and Pranav Kashyap
(Reuters) -London's benchmark equities index was flat on Monday after a four-week bull run, in caution as top U.S. and Chinese officials met in London to try and defuse a high-stakes trade dispute.
The FTSE 100 closed flat at 8,832.28 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 was up 0.6%.
A meeting with top officials from the U.S. and China unfolded in London that investors hope will produce some progress in de-escalating trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies.
The discussions emerged from a phone call between the nations' respective presidents last week, where they pledged to continue dialogue amid a trade war that threatens a global supply chain shock and slower economic growth.
British finance minister Rachel Reeves will hold a meeting with Chinese vice premier He Lifeng, although there were no details on when the talks would be held.
London stocks rounded off the previous week with gains and logged a fourth straight week of advances, the longest in nearly five months.
A U.S. jobs report on Friday allayed concerns of an economic slowdown in the world's biggest economy despite a U.S. tariff roller coaster.
The non-life insurers index led losses among sectors, ending down 1.3%.
Pharma stocks dipped 0.4%, as investors looked to book some profits.
Among individual stocks, WPP slipped 2.8% to the bottom of the FTSE 100 after the ad group said its Chief Executive Officer Mark Read would retire by the end of 2025.
Spectris soared 60%, leading FTSE 250 gains, after the scientific instruments maker said it has received a takeover proposal from private equity firm Advent valuing its shares at 37.35 pounds per share.
Alphawave jumped 18.9% after U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm agreed to acquire the semiconductor company for about $2.4 billion.
Asset manager M&G rose 3% after UBS upgraded its rating to 'buy' from 'neutral'.
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal, Pranav Kashyap and Ragini Mathur in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Chris Reese)
The FTSE 100 closed flat at 8,832.28 points.
The meeting aims to defuse ongoing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The non-life insurers index led losses, ending down 1.3%, and pharma stocks dipped 0.4%.
The U.S. jobs report alleviated concerns regarding an economic slowdown despite ongoing tariff issues.
Spectris soared 60% after receiving a takeover proposal from private equity firm Advent.
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