FTSE Pushing Higher

The FTSE continues to recover higher today as traders await key commentary from the BOE this week. Catherine Mann of the MPC will speak later today ahead of BOE’s Greene, Pill and Lombardelli who speak on Thursday, alongside BOE governor Andrew Bailey. Mann is among the most hawkish in the MPC having voted for a hike at both the July and September meetings. Greene and Pill should land on the hawkish side too while Bailey and Lombardelli are more neutrally placed, making them key swing voters to monitor. Ahead of this raft of commentary this week the market is currently pricing in around .36% of tightening by year end, suggesting the likelihood of just one further BOE hike this year. The key question for traders now is whether the BOE is likely to move in November or wait until December.

Lower Oil Prices Boosting Markets

Despite expectations for further tightening from the BOE, UK asset prices are rising on Tuesday amidst a broad rally in global stocks as traders cheer lower oil prices. Energy markets continue to drift lower this week as focus settle son improving global supply levels driven by the rebound in output from the Middle East. With outflows from the region now back at pre-war levels and the news on Friday that G7 countries will release a combined 100 million barrels from emergency energy reserves. Against this backdrop, the FTSE should continue to lift further unless we hear anything firmly hawkish from BOE members this week.

Technical Views

FTSE

The sell off in the index has stalled for now into the 10,456.6 level with price now bouncing higher again. While that support holds, focus is on a retest of the broken bull trend line and a return to the YTD highs around the 11k mark. Below there, however, deeper support at 10,120 will be the next bear target to note.