{"id":132805,"title":"FTSE 100 futures point to strong bounce at Friday open","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-02-20T07:33:01+00:00","modified":"2026-02-20T07:33:01+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-futures-point-to-strong-bounce-at-friday-open/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-futures-point-to-strong-bounce-at-friday-open.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-futures-point-to-strong-bounce-at-friday-open.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["AI fears","ASX 200","Bank of England","Bitcoin","BTC","cryptocurrency","Denmark","Donald Trump","FactSet","Fed","Federal Reserve","FTSE 100","Glencore","Gold","Hong Kong’s Hang Seng","London","mining stocks","NASDAQ","Nasdaq Composite","Nikkei","Norway","S&P 500","S&P Global","silver","tech rout","UK","United States","US markets","Wall Street"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FTSE-100-15-NOV-23.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"Defense officials have reportedly informed Mr. Trump that U.S. forces would be prepared for military action by Saturday, following the largest American military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.\n\nThe United States is assembling contingency plans for a potential direct strike on Iran, deploying long-range bombers and aerial refuelling aircraft to the Middle East in recent days as part of its preparations.\n\nFutures suggest the FTSE 100 is set to open about 46 points higher (around +0.4%) on Friday, after the index of UK large-caps finished Thursday down 0.6% at 10,627.04.\n\nIn currency markets, sterling was trading at USD 1.3444 early Friday, slightly softer than its USD 1.3455 level at Thursday’s close. The euro also edged lower, quoted at USD 1.1753 versus USD 1.1768 late Thursday, while the dollar strengthened against the yen at JPY 155.22, up from JPY 154.90.\n\nOvernight, Wall Street closed lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.5% and both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipping 0.3%. Asian markets are broadly weaker this morning. Tokyo has declined 1%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is down 0.6%, and Shanghai’s SSE Composite has fallen 1.3%.\n\nAsian markets are broadly weaker this morning. Tokyo has declined 1%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is down 0.6%, and Shanghai’s SSE Composite has fallen 1.3%.\n\nSouth Korea’s Kospi stands out, climbing 2.2% on robust demand for defence and shipbuilding shares, marking a fresh record high.\n\nOn the commodities front, gold was higher at about USD 5,026.96 an ounce, up from USD 5,003.14."}