On Monday, the index experienced a slight decline, influenced by the performance of major player AstraZeneca and the strength of the sterling. Investors are gearing up for a week packed with important central bank announcements, particularly from the Bank of England. AstraZeneca, Britain’s largest company, has become the latest pharmaceutical firm to scale back its operations in the country, having paused a planned investment of 200 million pounds in its Cambridge research centre.

Sterling’s strength against the greenback has also affected export-oriented firms as investors brace for a week of important central bank decisions. Meanwhile, the BoE is expected to keep interest rates steady on September 18, considering rising inflation and to slow down its 100 billion-pound-a-year bond unwind in response to renewed volatility in gilt markets. A majority of economists expect that the central bank will make a rate cut once in the next quarter and again in the early part of next year.

The attention will be on the U.S. Federal Reserve as it announces its policy decision this week, alongside several other central banks, including those in Japan and Canada. Additionally, the U.S. and Britain are preparing to announce agreements related to technology and civil nuclear energy during President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit this week, as the UK seeks to conclude steel tariffs under a highly awaited trade deal.

• The FTSE 250 experienced a gain of 0.43%, driven by a notable
  11.3% increase in AO World’s stock.
• The benchmark index was down 0.12% by 0917.
• Sainsbury has reached a more than four-year high, increasing by 5%
• Pharma and biotech stocks experienced sectoral losses, declining by 2.6%.