Gilt Yields Tick Up Amid Political Fallout and US-Iran Tensions
2026-04-21 12:07
By
Joana Ferreira
1 min. read
UK 10-year gilt yields approached 4.85% as investors processed Olly Robbins’ testimony before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and monitored US-Iran negotiations ahead of President Trump’s unmovable Wednesday deadline.
Robbins, dismissed by PM Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson ambassador scandal, testified that he faced pressure to approve Mandelson’s appointment but had no direct contact with No.
10 during the vetting process.
Adding to the uncertainty, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB denied reports that an Iranian delegation had traveled to Pakistan for talks with the US, contradicting earlier claims.
Meanwhile, President Trump accused Iran of "numerous" ceasefire violations, further straining tensions.
On the economic front, the latest UK jobs data revealed slowing wage growth, an unexpected drop in unemployment, and a decline in vacancies, though its market impact was limited, as the figures predate the outbreak of war and fail to reflect current labor market conditions.