The FTSE 100 looks set for a muted open on Thursday, failing to mirror the upbeat reaction seen on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points and signalled a softer policy stance for 2026.
US markets rallied strongly in response:
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Dow Jones jumped 1.1%
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S&P 500 gained 0.7%, ending just shy of a record
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Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%
But the momentum hasn’t carried over. Futures point to the FTSE 100 opening about five points lower, partly reversing Wednesday’s 13.5-point rise that took the index to 9,655.53.
US equity futures have also turned negative as traders reassess the Fed decision alongside other developments, including Oracle’s mixed results.
Asian markets were mixed overnight:
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Nikkei 225 down 0.9%
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Hang Seng down 0.1%
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Sensex up 0.55%
The overall tone suggests that while the Fed has provided reassurance on the rate path, markets are pausing to reassess valuations after the initial surge.
