Finance
FTSE 100 rises as heavyweight banks offset RELX drop
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 6, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 6, 2026
Quick Summary
FTSE 100 rises as bank gains offset RELX drop amid AI fears and UK political uncertainty. Bank of England signals potential rate cuts.
FTSE 100 rises as heavyweight banks offset RELX drop
Market Overview and Key Movements
Feb 06 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 ticked higher on Friday, as gains in heavyweight lenders offset another slide in data analytics firm RELX, which joined a global selloff this week on fears over disruption from advancements in artificial intelligence.
Impact of Major Banks
The blue-chip index was up 0.2% at 1133 GMT, on track to post a second straight weekly gain, also helped by the Bank of England signalling on Thursday that interest rates could fall if the drop in inflation is sustained.
Political and Economic Factors
The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 was little changed and was set to fall for a second straight week.
Housing Market Insights
Business information group RELX slid 3.5%, falling for the fourth straight week. London Stock Exchange Group rose 1.2% after sharp losses earlier this week.
But financial stocks, heavily weighted on the index, were up; banks Barclays, NatWest Group and Lloyds rose between 1% and 1.6%.
Across the pond, megacap tech stocks stumbled after Amazon.com's 50% boost in spending plans rattled sentiment.
Domestic political uncertainty also weighed, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced his most serious political threat yet after emails revealed the depth of UK ambassador Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, put the probability of Starmer's removal this year at 80%, up from 65%, saying the controversy had dealt "irreparable damage."
On the flip side, London-listed miners rose; Fresnillo was up 1.8%, among the top gainers of the benchmark index. [GOL/].
Separately, British house prices rose by the most in more than a year in January, mortgage lender Halifax said, adding to signs of a recovery in the housing market.
Next rose 0.5% after the fashion retailer said it has purchased British footwear brand Russell & Bromley through an insolvency process, paying 2.5 million pounds ($3.4 million).
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
Key Takeaways
- •FTSE 100 rises 0.2% as banks gain.
- •RELX drops amid global AI disruption fears.
- •Bank of England hints at possible rate cuts.
- •UK political uncertainty impacts markets.
- •UK housing market shows signs of recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions about FTSE 100 rises as heavyweight banks offset RELX drop
1What is the FTSE 100?
The FTSE 100 is a stock market index that represents the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, reflecting the performance of these companies.
2What are interest rates?
Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage of the total loan amount, and can influence economic activity and inflation.
3What is economic growth?
Economic growth refers to an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period, typically measured by the rise in GDP.
4What is the London Stock Exchange?
The London Stock Exchange is one of the world's oldest stock exchanges, where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold.
5What are heavyweight banks?
Heavyweight banks are large, influential financial institutions that play a significant role in the banking sector and financial markets.
