London’s stock market closed in negative territory on Friday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of high-stakes talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The discussions aimed to broker a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with global markets closely monitoring the outcome.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, remarked, “Alaska rarely takes center stage in financial markets, but today’s summit between Trump and Putin has captured global attention. While any concrete agreements will emerge after UK markets close, traders are keenly watching for signals of a credible peace deal, which could shape market sentiment next week.”

The FTSE 100 declined by 0.42%, closing at 9,138.90, while the FTSE 250 dipped 0.2% to 21,758.24. Market participants remained wary, with oil prices fluctuating as traders assessed whether the talks might lead to a resumption of Russian energy exports to Western nations.

Currency and Bond Markets React
The British pound gained 0.18% against the U.S. dollar, reaching $1.3557, but slipped 0.28% versus the euro to €1.1584. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields saw a modest rebound following earlier losses triggered by a stronger-than-expected inflation report, which tempered expectations of an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut.

Patrick Munnelly, market strategist at TickMill, noted, “Treasuries recovered slightly as traders adjusted their Fed rate cut bets. Oil prices held steady as the market braced for the Trump-Putin summit, which could influence global energy supply dynamics.”

Mixed Economic Signals: U.S. Retail Sales Rise, China Data Falls Short
In economic updates, U.S. retail sales met expectations in July, rising 0.5% after a 0.6% increase in June, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Core sales (excluding autos) grew by 0.3%, indicating a slight cooling in discretionary spending. Year-over-year, sales climbed 5.9%, bolstered by back-to-school shopping and extended summer discounts.

However, economic concerns lingered as China’s latest industrial production and retail sales figures disappointed analysts, adding to global growth worries. For more insights on how geopolitical tensions impact financial markets, check out this analysis from Reuters.

Key Takeaways for Investors
Geopolitical uncertainty weighed on London stocks ahead of the Trump-Putin summit.

Oil markets remained volatile amid potential shifts in Russian energy exports.

U.S. retail resilience contrasted with weaker Chinese economic data, highlighting global divergence.

For further updates on market-moving events, visit Bloomberg or Financial Times.

Stay tuned for developments as the outcome of the Alaska summit could set the tone for next week’s trading sessions.

rewrite this article to 100% unique aricle with back link with other good traffic web in the article :Winklevoss’ Gemini Files for Nasdaq IPO Amid Crypto Surge
Gemini, the Winklevoss twins’ crypto exchange, filed for an IPO on August 15, 2025, aiming to list on Nasdaq as GEMI amid a crypto resurgence. Despite a $282.5 million net loss on $67.9 million revenue in H1 2025, the move signals institutional confidence. This could enhance crypto’s mainstream legitimacy.

In a move that underscores the maturing yet volatile world of cryptocurrency exchanges, Gemini, the digital-asset platform founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, has publicly filed for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing, made on August 15, 2025, reveals a company grappling with financial headwinds even as it seeks to capitalize on a resurgent interest in crypto markets. According to details in the S-1 registration statement, Gemini reported a net loss of $282.5 million on revenue of $67.9 million for the first half of 2025, a stark contrast to the $41.4 million loss on $73.5 million in revenue during the same period a year earlier.

The twins, famous for their early Bitcoin investments and legal battles with Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook’s origins, aim to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol GEMI. This public disclosure follows a confidential filing in June, as reported by CNBC, and comes amid a wave of crypto firms eyeing Wall Street debuts. Gemini’s move is backed by heavyweight underwriters Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, signaling institutional confidence despite the sector’s regulatory uncertainties.

Gemini’s Turbulent Path to Public Markets

Founded in 2014, Gemini has positioned itself as a compliance-focused exchange, emphasizing security and regulatory adherence in an industry often criticized for lax standards. The company’s journey to an IPO has been marked by highs and lows, including a high-profile fallout with lending partner Genesis Global, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023, leading to customer asset freezes and legal entanglements. Recent posts on X from users like Cointelegraph highlight the buzz around this filing, with sentiment reflecting optimism tied to a crypto-friendly political climate under President Trump.

Financially, the IPO prospectus paints a picture of a firm hit hard by market downturns. Revenue dipped due to lower trading volumes and fees, exacerbated by competition from giants like Coinbase and Binance. Yet, Gemini’s assets under custody stand at over $5 billion, per the filing, bolstered by its custody services and the Gemini dollar stablecoin. As Bloomberg noted in its coverage, this IPO joins a swelling cohort of digital-asset businesses, including Circle and Kraken, rushing to public markets amid Bitcoin’s price surge past $80,000.