FTSE Gains Amid Economic Data Anticipation

London's FTSE indexes advanced on Monday, driven by gains in financial stocks as markets brace for a week filled with crucial economic data anticipated to shed light on the central bank's next monetary policy steps.

The FTSE 100, focusing on international companies, edged up by 0.41% to 10,488.79 points, and the FTSE 250, with a domestic focus, rose by 0.36% to 23,513.26 points. Notably, British banks NatWest and Barclays saw increases of 4.3% and 2.7%, respectively, following a broader recovery in European financial stocks after the prior week's selloff. This rebound comes after UK lenders recorded their most significant weekly drop since late March 2025 due to global market jitters over artificial intelligence models disrupting standard business operations.

The week is set to spotlight UK's January consumer inflation, retail sales data, and February's preliminary manufacturing activity estimates. Inflation remains far from the Bank of England's 2% target, with investors anticipating a 25-basis-point interest rate cut next month amidst signs of economic strain from tight monetary conditions. Elsewhere, SkinBioTherapeutics plunged by 41.4% following investigations into its former CEO, accused of financial misrepresentation, and Pinewood's shares fell by 28% after Apax Partners canceled a $792 million deal, citing tough market conditions. Additionally, lower prices in base and precious metals impacted the materials sector, marking it as a top decliner.