FTSE 100 Opens Lower as European Markets Slip Ahead of Eurozone CPI; Pound Weakens

UK stocks opened on the back foot Friday, tracking broader declines across European markets as investors awaited the latest Eurozone inflation figures. The pound also edged lower against the U.S. dollar.

As of 08:12 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, while the British pound slipped 0.03% against the dollar to 1.31. On the continent, Germany’s DAX fell 0.3%, and France’s CAC 40 eased 0.05%.

UK house prices continue modest recovery

Nationwide’s latest House Price Index showed that UK home prices rose 2.4% year-on-year in October, up slightly from 2.2% in September. On a monthly basis, prices increased by 0.3%, following a 0.5% gain in the previous month. The average house price now stands at £272,226.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said the market has remained “stable in recent months despite challenging economic conditions.”

TT Electronics rejects DBAY’s takeover offers

In corporate news, TT Electronics Plc (LSE:TTG) has turned down three unsolicited takeover proposals from private equity firm DBAY Advisors over the past three months, with the latest bid valuing the company at 130 pence per share.

The British engineering group said it continues to favor the 155 pence per share offer from Swiss company Cicor Technologies, announced Thursday, representing a 19% premium to DBAY’s most recent proposal.

Raspberry Pi CFO to step down in 2026

Raspberry Pi Holdings PLC (LSE:RPI) announced that Chief Financial Officer Richard Boult plans to step down in the second half of 2026.

Boult, who joined the low-cost computing firm in 2019, has notified the board of his decision to pursue new opportunities after seven years with the company, including two following its 2024 London Stock Exchange listing.

Moonpig names Catherine Faiers as new CEO

Moonpig Group PLC (LSE:MOON) announced the appointment of Catherine Faiers as its next Chief Executive Officer.

Faiers, currently Chief Operating Officer at Auto Trader, will succeed outgoing CEO Nickyl Raithatha, whose departure was first announced in June. She brings extensive digital and e-commerce experience from previous roles at Addison Lee and Trainline.