FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Trades Higher

The FTSE 100 experienced a 0.3% increase on Thursday, as European markets saw gains while investors digested the recent UK employment figures. Liz McKeown from the Office for National Statistics highlighted a weakening labor market, with payroll numbers declining once more. However, revised tax data indicates that this decrease is not as pronounced as initially believed. UK wage growth surpassed expectations, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.7%. In the corporate sector, EasyJet shares dropped over 7% after the company cautioned that its earnings would be affected by French air traffic control strikes and escalating fuel costs. Jefferies analysts subsequently reduced their profit forecast by 5.5%. Despite these challenges, EasyJet reported a profit increase in the third quarter and maintains expectations for full-year growth, though its performance remains contingent on late summer bookings influenced by changing consumer behaviors.