17th Feb 2026 06:57
(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Tuesday, ahead of inflation and economic data from the eurozone, Germany and other regions, and as negotiations continue between the US and Iran.
Tehran has said that the US position on Iran's nuclear programme "has moved towards a more realistic one", a day ahead of a second round of talks in Geneva.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned Iran of the "consequences of not making a deal" ahead of talks between the US and the Islamic republic in Geneva.
"I'll be involved in those talks, indirectly," the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington.
IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 to open down 16.7 points, 0.2%, on Tuesday. The index of London large-caps closed up 27.34 points, 0.3%, at 10,473.69 on Monday.
"Highlighting things will be the latest UK labour market figures, with unemployment set to have held steady at a cycle high 5.1% in the three months to December, as earnings pressures continue to gradually ebb," Pepperstone's Michael Brown commented. "The more timely PAYE payrolls metric, though, is set to point to around 20k jobs having been lost in January, which would represent a fifth straight monthly decline.
"All in all, the data should do little to deter the BoE from delivering a 25bp cut at the next MPC meeting in mid-March, though tomorrow's CPI figures will also have a pivotal role to play on that front."
Sterling was quoted at USD1.3613 early Tuesday, lower than USD1.3629 at the London equities close on Monday.
The euro traded at USD1.1845 early Tuesday, lower than USD1.1854 late Monday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted lower at JPY152.87 versus JPY153.44.
Financial markets in New York were closed for Washington's Birthday on Monday.
In Asia on Tuesday, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo was down 0.4%. Financial markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong are closed for Chinese New Year celebrations. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed up 0.2%.
Gold was quoted at USD4,907.63 an ounce early Tuesday, lower than USD4,985.30 on Monday.
Brent oil was trading at USD68.15 a barrel early Tuesday, lower than USD68.42 late on Monday.
In Tuesday's corporate calendar, there are full-year results from Antofagasta, Intercontinental Hotels, Coca-Cola Europacific and others.
In the economic calendar on Tuesday, UK unemployment and German consumer inflation are up first.
By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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