FTSE 100 edges lower in volume-light trading

Chris Beauchamp IG

European markets have drifted sideways in quiet trading, while investors are already looking towards Friday’s payroll report, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading platform IG.

Quiet start to the week

In London the FTSE 100 hovers near the lows of the day, as European markets drift as per usual on a US holiday. August ended with stock markets shrugging off their early-month weakness, a remarkable recovery from the panic-like conditions that briefly prevailed four weeks ago.

All eyes are on the payrolls report this week, but there is a limited likelihood that markets are in for another dire number. Instead, a higher revision to last month’s figure could see the prospect of a US recession being pushed back once again.

Author

Chris Beauchamp

Chris Beauchamp has been with IG for four years, and in that time has become a regular commentator and analyst for the financial press and TV, with appearances on all the major financial channels as well as the BBC and Sky News.

AUD/USD consolidates above 0.6950 amid risk aversion

AUD/USD consolidates in the Asian session on Thursday, trading just above 0.6950 as traders assess developments in the Middle East crisis. The Pentagon reportedly ordered readiness for potential strikes against Iran. This keeps the geopolitical risk premium in play, which, along with hawkish FOMC Minutes and elevated US bond yields, will likely keep the US Dollar underpinned at the expense of the pair.

USD/JPY slips below 158.00 as USD retreats

USD/JPY returns to the red below 158.00 in the Asian session on Thursday amid speculation that authorities will step in to prop up the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar eases from near an 18-month high on profit taking, ignoring Wednesday's hawkish FOMC Minutes and the risk of a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding to the pair's pullback.

Gold clings to daily gains; still below $4,150

Gold regains some composure and climbs back to the vicinity $4,150 mark per troy ounce amid decent gains on Thursday. The yellow metal’s recovery follows some loss of momentum in the US Dollar strength and a decent drop in US Treasury yields across the curve.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP extend sell-off amid ETF outflows

Bitcoin (BTC) extends its decline below $83,000 on Thursday as heightened selling pressure weighs on the market. Leading altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP), mirror the sector-wide pullback, with ETH dipping under $2,600 and XRP challenging support at $1.40.

ECB expected to pause in October before hiking rates in December – Reuters poll

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to leave interest rates unchanged in October before delivering another increase in December, according to a Reuters poll conducted October 5-8. The survey shows that 70 of 73 economists expect the ECB to hold its deposit rate at 2.50% on October 29, while 64 of 73 anticipate a 25-basis-point (bps) hike in December.

The UK 30-year gilt just hit a 1998 high. Is that good or bad for the British Pound?

The yield on the UK's 30-year government bond, or gilt, went through 6% on October 1 for the first time since early 1998, and on Monday the Pound was at its strongest against the Euro since June 2025. The gilt market's 28-year high is mostly someone else's. Since early May, the 30-year gilt yield has risen about 0.15 of a percentage point and the US 30-year about 0.7.