Shell losses weigh on FTSE 100

Chris Beauchamp IG

Another fall for Shell has weighed on the FTSE 100, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at investing and trading platform IG.

Shell slumps despite Oil price bounce

The FTSE 100 has lingered in the red following today’s update, with the outlook compounded by the realisation that non-US oil firms are likely to miss out from any Venezuela bonanza. Energy stocks are already widely disliked, but when Chevron, Exxon and others are poised to benefit from the midnight raid on Caracas, why bother with anyone else? Elsewhere Tesco’s slump has also detracted from the index, which remains in the red even with BAE and Rolls poised to benefit from a US defence splurge next year.

Battle for Bitcoin intensifies

Bitcoin might have reversed from $95,000, but some furious buying at $90,000 raises hope that the latest bounce might not go the way of all the others since the summer. The volatility in gold and silver will have shifted some flows towards cryptocurrencies, with the hope that tomorrow’s payrolls will be weaker than forecast, bolstering hopes both that the Fed will cut and that the US economy is facing significant headwinds.

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Chris Beauchamp

EUR/USD stays weak near 1.1650 ahead of critical US data

EUR/USD stays on the back foot and trades at around 1.1650 on Friday. The pair remains undermined by broad US Dollar strength and a cautious market mood. Traders keenly await the US Nonfarm Payrolls data and Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariff powers for further direction.

GBP/USD drops toward 1.3400 as focus shifts to US employment report

GBP/USD remains under bearish pressure after posting losses for three consecutive days and declines toward 1.3400. The US Dollar stays resilient against its rivals and doesn't allow the pair to stage a rebound as market participants await December employment data from the US.

Gold flat lines below $4,500, looks to US NFP report for fresh impetus

Gold reverses a modest intraday dip to the $4,453 area, and trades near the top end of its daily range at around $4,470. The upside, however, seems limited as traders stay on the sidelines while waiting for the US Nonfarm Payrolls report later today. The crucial employment details will be looked upon for more cues about the Federal Reserve's rate-cut path.

Nonfarm Payrolls expected to show US labor market remained weak in December

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Nonfarm Payrolls data for December on Friday at 13:30 GMT. Economists expect Nonfarm Payrolls to rise by 60,000 in December following the 64,000 increase recorded in November.

2026 economic outlook: Clear skies but don’t unfasten your seatbelts yet

Most years fade into the background as soon as a new one starts. Not 2025: a year of epochal shifts, in which the macroeconomy was the dog that did not bark. What to expect in 2026? The shocks of 2025 will not be undone, but neither will they be repeated.

Pepe Price Forecast: PEPE risks 100-day EMA fallout as bullish interest fades

Pepe is under extreme selling pressure, trading in the red for the fifth consecutive day, down 1% at press time on Friday. Pepe’s decline following a 72% hike last week suggests a likely profit-booking phase, while on-chain data indicates declining network activity.