StocksMedium2 July 2026
1 min read

FTSE 100 Hits 2-Month High Following Weak US Jobs Data

Key Facts

1The FTSE 100 jumped 175 points to reach 10,654, marking a two-month high for the UK index.
2The rally was driven by a miss in US jobs data, impacting European markets and US futures.

Amid a wave of optimism across European markets, the FTSE 100 recorded significant gains that propelled it to its highest level in two months. The UK index jumped 175 points to reach 10,654 points according to reports. This rally was directly triggered by US jobs data missing expectations, which boosted risk appetite across European exchanges and US futures markets.

This upward move comes as global economic data shows notable divergence, with Italian consumer confidence hitting 92.4, below the 94.5 forecast per market data on June 26, 2026. Conversely, Eurozone economic sentiment improved slightly to 95 points as of June 29, 2026, providing a supportive backdrop for London's blue-chip stocks compared to regional peers reacting to the US employment slowdown.

Investors should monitor whether the FTSE 100 can sustain its position above new psychological support levels following this technical breakout. Looking ahead, markets are awaiting the Chinese Manufacturing PMI release on June 30, 2026, which could dictate the direction for heavily-weighted mining and energy stocks, especially after US wholesale inventories rose 0.3% in late June.