FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Edges Up on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 saw a modest rise of 0.2%, maintaining a steady course for the third consecutive session. Gains in banking and technology sectors balanced the declines seen in mining stocks, influenced by varied signals from global markets. The financial sector spearheaded the upward movement, with HSBC advancing over 1.5%, NatWest increasing by 1.4%, Barclays climbing 1.1%, and Lloyds Banking and Standard Chartered both rising approximately 0.6%. Meanwhile, tech stocks provided additional support, countering the drop in mining shares as metal prices experienced a slight retreat. Mining giants like Anglo American, Rio Tinto, and Antofagasta saw declines around 1%, while Glencore fell roughly 0.8%. Gold miners were particularly hit by the downturn in precious metal prices, with Fresnillo plunging more than 3% and Endeavour decreasing 1.3%. The market also evaluated recent trade developments, including Donald Trump's threat of 25% tariffs on South Korean exports and the announcement of a significant free trade agreement between India and the EU. Domestically, inflation continued to be a major issue as retail prices increased by 1.5% in January, and food inflation accelerated to 3.9%.