Global stock markets experienced a rise on Friday, with the FTSE 100 index in London closing up 0.4% at 10,650.44. The FTSE 250 and AIM all-share indices also climbed by 0.4% each. European markets saw similar gains, with the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt both rising 0.8%. In the United States, major indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all recorded strong increases, with the Nasdaq leading the way with a 1.3% rise. Inflation data for the U.S. showed stability in August, with the consumer price index rising 3.4% compared to the same period last year. This matched expectations, and the monthly increase was 0.4%, also in line with forecasts. The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2.4% annually and 0.3% monthly, slightly above expectations. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is an 87% chance the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by 25 basis points this week. Analysts from Barclays support this move, while others remain cautious about the outcome. Dutch bank ING suggests that a potential rate hike would be a minor adjustment rather than the start of a broader increase in rates. Deutsche Bank analysts expect the Bank of England to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, despite rising inflation concerns. The UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, up from 0.3% in June, showing a slight acceleration. Oil prices dipped slightly, with Brent crude ending the day at $104.73 per barrel, while gold prices climbed to $4,375.02 per ounce. Several companies saw strong stock performances, including Endeavour Mining, Rightmove, and XP Power. C&C’s shares jumped 13% after it announced plans to acquire Asahi UK’s wholesale interests. On the FTSE 100, the biggest gainers were NatWest Group, Lion Finance, Barclays, Endeavour Mining, and Lloyds Banking Group. The biggest losers included London Stock Exchange Group, Sage Group, Smith & Nephew, Next, and BAE Systems. Looking ahead, next week’s economic calendar will feature important data from China, rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, and an expected rate hike from the Bank of Japan.