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The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) and pound fell and US stocks were mixed on Monday, as markets digest the impact of the rising cost of UK government borrowing, revealed last week, and look ahead to potential interest rate cut paths.
The pound headed towards the $1.21 mark — the lowest level since November 2023, and the yield on UK 10-year gilts hovered around 4.88%. Bloomberg reported that options traders are preparing for a further 8% dip in the price, with "sizeable demand" for contracts that pay out below $1.20.
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London's benchmark index had fallen 0.2% by the closing bell in Europe. Among the top movers in the index were mining giant Fresnillo (FRES.L) and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG.L), which both fell more than 3%.
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In Germany, the DAX (^GDAXI) fell 0.3% and the CAC 40 (^FCHI) was 0.3% lower in Paris.
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The pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) dropped 0.5%.
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Across the pond, major indexes were mixed, with losses led by tech stocks. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) sank 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) tumbled about 1.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI), which includes fewer tech stocks, crept up 0.3% ahead of big bank earnings later in the week.
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Stocks had plunged on Friday, wiping out all year-to-date gains for Wall Street's major gauges. A hot December jobs report rattled markets, spurring concern that signs of strength in the economy will encourage the Federal Reserve to keep rates higher for longer.
(^DJI)
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