UK stocks edged higher on Monday, with the FTSE 100 climbing 0.1% and sterling firming against the dollar to above 1.34. The rebound followed a lower opening and mirrored mixed European sentiment, as Germany’s DAX rose 0.5% while France’s CAC 40 held steady. Investors also weighed the Bank of England’s latest policy hints, which could influence future sterling volatility.

Barclays shares plunged 4.8% after former President Donald Trump warned that credit‑card lenders would face legal action if they failed to cap interest rates at 10% for a year. The bank, which operates a sizable U.S. credit‑card portfolio, felt the threat immediately. Other UK names moved on analyst upgrades and downgrades.

Next PLC gained an outperform rating from Bernstein, lifting its target to £160, while Associated British Foods slipped to market‑perform and its target fell to £18. UBS upgraded Sage Group to Buy, citing AI‑driven pricing power, and Morgan Stanley cut Mondi PLC to underweight over margin concerns. Meanwhile, Oxford Nanopore Technologies projected 2025 revenue of £223‑£224 million, topping guidance thanks to a 22% jump driven by AI and data‑center demand.

British Land CEO Simon Carter announced his exit after five years, moving to P3 Logistics Parks.