FTSE 100 Rises, On Course For Weekly Gain

2026-02-20 08:35 By Agna Gabriel 1 min. read

FTSE 100 traded 0.3% higher on Friday, recovering from a 0.6% fall in the previous session, supported by stronger UK data that improved sentiment.

Retail sales recorded their fastest growth in 20 months at the start of the year, beating expectations and signalling firmer consumer demand.

Britain also posted a record budget surplus, helped by higher capital gains tax receipts and lower debt interest payments.

Banks outperformed as traders trimmed Bank of England rate cut expectations after the retail sales surprise.

The strong public finances data also supported cyclical stocks, reinforcing the rebound after the prior session’s weakness.

Considering the full week, the FTSE 100 is up almost 2%.



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