Finance
FTSE 100 ticks up as soft jobs data raises rate cut bets; metal prices drag miners
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Summary
FTSE 100 rose 0.2% as weak jobs data fueled rate cut hopes. Mining stocks fell due to lower metal prices, while tech stocks gained.
FTSE 100 Edges Up as Weak Jobs Data Fuels Rate Cut Speculation
Market Reactions to Economic Indicators
Feb 17 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 inched higher on Tuesday, as signs of a cooling labour market raised hopes of an interest rate cut next month, while a drop in metal prices pressured mining stocks.
Impact of Unemployment Rate
The blue‑chip FTSE 100 rose 0.2% to 10,506.04 points, as of 1137 GMT, near a record high, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 dipped 0.1%.
Mining Sector Performance
Britain's unemployment rate rose to 5.2%, its highest in over a decade outside the pandemic, while wage growth cooled again, according to Office for National Statistics data.
Technology Stocks Rise
Sterling dipped 0.2% against the dollar as investors priced a roughly 80% chance of a quarter-point Bank of England rate cut, up from 65% on Monday. Following the data, Bank shares gained 0.3%.
Geopolitical Factors Affecting Markets
January consumer prices data on Wednesday could offer more clues on the bank's monetary policy path.
Meanwhile, sentiment around geopolitical tensions eased somewhat as U.S. and Iran began indirect talks in Geneva. U.S.-mediated discussions between Ukraine and Russia later in the day were slated to focus on disagreements over territory.
Defence stocks dropped 1.6% on expectations of weaker demand, while precious‑metal miners also dipped amid a softer appetite for safe‑haven assets.
Miner Antofagasta posted a 52% jump in annual core profit, but its shares dropped 5% on weak copper prices.
Technology stocks rose 1.7% following last week's artificial intelligence-related turbulence in global markets, with information group RELX and credit analytics firm Experian up 2.3% and 1.3% respectively.
Plus500 fell 6.4% to the bottom of the mid-cap index after the multi-asset trading platform said its CEO, CFO and CMO would sell an aggregate 1.5 million shares of the company.
InterContinental Hotels Group fell 1.3% even after the Holiday Inn‑owner posted fourth‑quarter global revenue per available room above market expectations.
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
Key Takeaways
- •FTSE 100 rose 0.2% amid rate cut speculation.
- •Unemployment rate increased to 5.2%.
- •Sterling dipped 0.2% against the dollar.
- •Geopolitical tensions eased with U.S.-Iran talks.
- •Technology stocks rose 1.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions about FTSE 100 ticks up as soft jobs data raises rate cut bets; metal prices drag miners
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 the UK economy.
2What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a country's central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic goals.
3What are interest rates?
Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money or the return on savings, expressed as a percentage. They are influenced by central bank policies and economic conditions.
4What are mining stocks?
Mining stocks are shares in companies that extract minerals and metals from the earth. Their value can be affected by commodity prices and economic conditions.
