#FTSE #GOLD The anticipation for the US lowering interest rates with an announcement next Wednesday 10th appears to be smothering the usual dread of the first Friday of the month US Payrolls news. As this will be the first “proper” announcement since the US Government shutdown ceased, it’s unlikely to be collated as a bunch of optimistic estimates, risking a reality bomb dropping on the markets on Friday. Even the UK market has been tiptoeing around this week in a manner similar to walking through a dark room, knowing their are some small bits of lego on the floor.
Regardless, the FTSE seems to be having a love affair with the 9700 point level presently, remaining fascinated with it for the last 7 sessions. It makes us question whether this pause in market movements shall be left behind due to useful numbers from the USA or a miserable wait until the next BoE decision on UK interest rates on Thursday 18th December. In-house, we’ve an expectation of some dud US jobs numbers provoking near term market reversals, then the US Fed Res decision next Wednesday pulling things back upward again, just in time for a proper Christmas rally.
From an immediate perspective, we shall be a little interested if the FTSE manages above 9728 as this should create a lift to a fairly useless 9747 points. But in the even the FTSE manages to bubble above 9747 points, we shall regard it as moving into bigger picture territory with 9835 exerting an attraction. Should this movement trigger, the tightest stop looks like 9703 points, a fairly reasonable gift.
Our alternate scenario for the near term kicks in, should 9703 break as this calculates with an unlikely potential for reversal to 9623 points with our “longer term” secondary, if broken, down at 9580 points.
Finally, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, some amusement is almost certified as the world title is in the hands of three drivers. And probably Lance Stroll who shall doubtless force some of them off the track while they try and avoid him… Have a good weekend.
FUTURES
FUTURES
| Time Issued | Market | Price At Issue | Short Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Long Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Prior |
| 10:02:17PM | BRENT | 6328.5 | 6248 | 6204 | 6284 | 6340 | 6359 | 6315 | |||
| 10:05:34PM | GOLD | 4207.3 | 4174 | 4164 | 4201 | 4220 | 4231 | 4199 | |||
| 10:08:25PM | FTSE | 9703.5 | 9673 | 9656 | 9713 | 9727 | 9745 | 9706 | ‘cess | ||
| 10:11:58PM | STOX50 | 5717.5 | 5703 | 5694 | 5721 | 5731 | 5745 | 5700 | |||
| 10:17:06PM | GERMANY | 23880.2 | 23779 | 23722 | 23844 | 23946 | 23972 | 23850 | |||
| 10:48:48PM | US500 | 6855.9 | 6806 | 6759 | 6851 | 6862 | 6874 | 6846 | |||
| 10:51:33PM | DOW | 47839.7 | 47687 | 47590 | 47861 | 48060 | 48139 | 47870 | |||
| 10:54:15PM | NASDAQ | 25586.2 | 25446 | 25339 | 25584 | 25686 | 25721 | 25559 | |||
| 10:58:47PM | JAPAN | 50606 | 50372 | 50285 | 50655 | 50990 | 51159.5 | 50698 | ‘cess |
4/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9710 points. Change of 0.19%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,286,205,585 a change of -7.45%
3/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9692 points. Change of -0.09%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,792,103,773 a change of -9.49%
2/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9701 points. Change of -0.01%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,504,463,806 a change of 24.89%
1/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9702 points. Change of -0.19%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,008,942,669 a change of 26.85%
28/11/2025 FTSE Closed at 9720 points. Change of 0.28%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 4,737,137,664 a change of -21.39%
27/11/2025 FTSE Closed at 9693 points. Change of 0.02%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,026,345,245 a change of -20.1%
26/11/2025 FTSE Closed at 9691 points. Change of 0.85%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,542,003,610 a change of 18.39% 
SUCCESS above means both FAST & SLOW targets were met. ‘CESS means just the FAST target met and probably the next time it is exceeded, movement to the SLOW target shall commence.
Our commentary is in two sections. Immediately below are today’s updated comments. If our commentary remains valid, the share can be found in the bottom section which has a RED heading. Hopefully, this will mean you no longer need to flip back through previous reports. HYPERLINKS DISABLED IN THIS VERSION
Please remember, all prices are mid-price (halfway between the Buy and Sell). When we refer to a price CLOSING above a specific level, we are viewing the point where we can regard a trend as changing. Otherwise, we are simply speculating on near term trading targets. Our website is www.trendsandtargets.com.
UPDATE. We often give an initial and a secondary price. If the initial is exceeded, we still expect it to fall back but the next time the initial is bettered, the price should continue to the secondary. The converse it true with price drops.
We can be contacted at info@trendsandtargets.com. Spam filters set to maximum so only legit emails get through…
Section One – Outlook Updated Today. Click here for Section Two – Outlook Remains Valid shares
Click Epic to jump to share: LSE:BARC Barclays** **LSE:BBY BALFOUR BEATTY** **LSE:BLOE Block Energy PLC** **LSE:IHG Intercontinental Hotels Group** **LSE:SRP Serco** **
********
Updated charts published on : Barclays, BALFOUR BEATTY, Block Energy PLC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Serco,
LSE:BARC Barclays. Close Mid-Price: 439.2 Percentage Change: + 1.35% Day High: 442.1 Day Low: 436
In the event of Barclays enjoying further trades beyond 442.1, the share ……..
</p
View Previous Barclays & Big Picture ***
LSE:BBY BALFOUR BEATTY. Close Mid-Price: 721.5 Percentage Change: + 1.69% Day High: 726.5 Day Low: 705.5
Target met. Continued trades against BBY with a mid-price ABOVE 726.5 sho ……..
</p
View Previous BALFOUR BEATTY & Big Picture ***
LSE:BLOE Block Energy PLC Close Mid-Price: 0.6 Percentage Change: -7.69% Day High: 0.65 Day Low: 0.6
Target met. Weakness on Block Energy PLC below 0.6 will invariably lead t ……..
</p
View Previous Block Energy PLC & Big Picture ***
LSE:IHG Intercontinental Hotels Group Close Mid-Price: 10060 Percentage Change: -0.98% Day High: 10330 Day Low: 10005
Target met. Continued trades against IHG with a mid-price ABOVE 10330 sho ……..
</p
View Previous Intercontinental Hotels Group & Big Picture ***
LSE:SRP Serco. Close Mid-Price: 264 Percentage Change: + 0.61% Day High: 265 Day Low: 262
Further movement against Serco ABOVE 265 should improve acceleration towa ……..
</p
View Previous Serco & Big Picture ***