FTSE for Friday: advance or retreat for the blue-chip index?

Independent analyst Alistair Strang examines the FTSE 100 after the Bank of England’s decision to leave interest rates on hold.

6th February 2026 09:00

by Alistair Strang from Trends and Targets

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financial stock exchange market chart 600

The inactivity of the Bank of England in keeping interest rates on hold at 3.75% risks provoking quite serious reversals for the FTSE 100.

The Bank has pushed over a domino, revealing an unpleasant tier of trouble ahead. Currently, below 10,288 points risks bringing reversals to an initial 10,201 points with our secondary, if broken, at 10,102 points and a level which suggests a potential bounce.

However, quite importantly, should 10,100 break, a cycle to 9,820 risks introducing itself, perhaps even an eventual bottom at 9,601 points. Visually, this would look like the Bank was deliberately trying to undo the market gains since the interest rate reductions which punctuated the end of 2025.

Of course, theres the unlikely chance the market will decide to ignore it, movement above 10,378 risking triggering gains to an initial 10.406 with our secondary, if beaten, at 10,466 points and some hesitation.

FTSE 100 chart T&T

Source: Trends and Targets. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Alistair Strang has led high-profile and "top secret" software projects since the late 1970s and won the original John Logie Baird Award for inventors and innovators. After the financial crash, he wanted to know "how it worked" with a view to mimicking existing trading formulas and predicting what was coming next. His results speak for themselves as he continually refines the methodology.

Alistair Strang is a freelance contributor and not a direct employee of Interactive Investor. All correspondence is with Alistair Strang, who for these purposes is deemed a third-party supplier. Buying, selling and investing in shares is not without risk. Market and company movement will affect your performance and you may get back less than you invest. Neither Alistair Strang or Interactive Investor will be responsible for any losses that may be incurred as a result of following a trading idea. 

These articles are provided for information purposes only.  Occasionally, an opinion about whether to buy or sell a specific investment may be provided by third parties.  The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy as it is not provided based on an assessment of your investing knowledge and experience, your financial situation or your investment objectives. The value of your investments, and the income derived from them, may go down as well as up. You may not get back all the money that you invest. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser.

Full performance can be found on the company or index summary page on the interactive investor website. Simply click on the company's or index name highlighted in the article.

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