FX.co ★ UK Stocks End Almost Muted

On Tuesday, London's FTSE 100 gave up some of its initial gains, finishing nearly unchanged at 9,223 points. This came as investors processed weaker-than-anticipated PMI data and awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell later in the day. The latest survey indicated that the UK private sector's growth has slowed to its weakest level since May, with a notable deceleration in services and a further contraction in manufacturing. In an update from the OECD, the organization's UK growth forecast was marginally revised upwards to 1.4% for 2025, yet it warned that inflation might reach 3.5% by the end of the year, marking the highest rate among major economies. In the stock market, Kingfisher surged nearly 15% following an upgrade in its full-year forecast due to strong interim profits, which positively influenced others in the sector. Meanwhile, Smiths Group experienced a decline of over 3% from its previous record highs due to profit-taking activities. Moreover, declines in major corporations such as AstraZeneca and British American Tobacco contributed to the day's subdued market performance.