Skip to content

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

FTSE 100 Futures point to lower opening on Thursday

IG’s FTSE 100 pre-market data indicates that the benchmark could start lower on Thursday (22 July 2021).

Source: Bloomberg
  • FTSE 100 Futures were trading as low as 6,930 on Thursday (22 July)
  • This is down nearly 1% from the previous day’s closing of 6,998
  • The Footsie ended higher for a second straight day on Wednesday to post its best day in five months, led by travel and aviation stocks
  • Monday’s ‘sudden drop looks more and more like a sudden air pocket’, says IG analyst Chris Beaucham
  • Interested to go long or short on the FTSE 100 index? Open an account with us today.

FTSE 100 Futures: what’s the latest?

UK blue-chip equity benchmark FTSE 100 index is down in overnight trading, IG data indicates.

IG's live FTSE 100 Futures price estimates showed the index trading at a median level of around 6,940 as at 05:30 GMT+1 on Thursday. Earlier, the index had hit as low as 6,930.

Why did the FTSE 100 close higher on Wednesday?

This represents a 0.8% decrease from the previous day’s gains, when the Footsie had posted its best day in five months to close 117 points higher at 6,998.

The rally was led by travel and aviation stocks, including aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, which recorded the largest increase of the day, up 7.7%.

This was closely followed by fashion retailer Next, whose share price rose 7.5%, after reporting strong sales and raising its profit forecasts in its latest financial results.

Meanwhile, travel and hospitality firms, including Premier Inns operator Whitbread (+6.1%), catering firm Compass Group (+5.6%), and British Airways parent company IAG (+5.6%), were the next biggest gainers.

This is a stark contrast from Monday’s performance, when the FTSE 100 had sunk 2.3% to a two-month low amid a rising number of coronavirus cases in the UK.

‘Tuesday’s rally has extended into a second day, and Monday’s sudden drop looks more and more like a sudden air pocket that produced excitement but little lasting impact,’ said IG chief market analyst, Chris Beauchamp.

What’s the FTSE 100 outlook?

Beauchamp believes that the bull market will get back on track again, ‘if Monday does turn out to have been a sudden summer squall’.

He added that the overall bullishness ‘will also bolster the ongoing parallels with 2013 and 2017, which both followed on the heels of volatile years but were themselves examples of quiet but relentless equity market rallies’.

IG’s client sentiment data shows that 73% of retail traders are net-long as of 22 July. On Tuesday (20 July), the number of traders on net-long hit 86.77%, the highest since 28 February this year.

What’s your view of the FTSE 100? Take a long or short position now.

Trade what you want, when you want with the UK’s No.1 trading provider.* We have over 80 top global indices with more trading hours than anyone else. Find out more about indices trading, or open an account to trade now.

*Based on revenue (published financial statements, 2022).

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Seize your opportunity

Deal on the world’s stock indices today.

  • Trade on rising or falling markets
  • Get one-point spreads on the FTSE 100
  • Unrivalled 24-hour pricing

See opportunity on an index?

Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re on to something.

  • Log in to your demo
  • Try a risk-free trade
  • See whether your hunch pays off

See opportunity on an index?

Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.

  • Get spreads from one point on the FTSE 100
  • Trade more 24-hour indices than any other provider
  • Analyse and deal seamlessly on smart, fast charts

See opportunity on an index?

Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take your position.

Live prices on most popular markets

  • Equities
  • Indices
  • Forex
  • Commodities
website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

" >


Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.

Plan your trading week

Get the week’s market-moving news sent directly to your inbox every Sunday. The Week Ahead gives you a full calendar of upcoming economic events, as well as commentary from our expert analysts on the key markets to watch.


For more info on how we might use your data, see our privacy notice and access policy and privacy webpage.

You might be interested in…

Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.

Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of spread betting and CFDs.

Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.