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The FTSE 100 has fallen short of its record closing high. 

We are waiting for final figures to come through, but it is clear that it has failed to reach its 8,871 high set in March. 

American and Chinese negotiators remained locked in talks over a prospective trade deal that could bring down tariffs between the world's largest economies and pave the way for greater market access. 

The discussions began at Lancaster House in central London yesterday and are likely to continue all day today too.

Donald Trump said last night that he was "only getting good reports" about the talks. "We are doing well with China," he told reporters at the White House. 

Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, echoed the president, telling the media that the talks were "going well". 

Lutnick, who was not at the previous talks in Geneva last month, is joined by the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, as well as the trade representative, Jamieson Greer.

His presence at the latest talks in London could be a sign that the Americans are prepared to negotiate export controls on semiconductor technology, which fall under his remit and represents a major prize for Beijing as it seeks to develop its own chip industry. 

The Americans are pushing the Chinese to ease export controls on rare earth minerals and have accused the country of reneging on its promise, back in May, to ease access. 

Both sides have considerable leverage in the battle but also plenty of impetus to deescalate, with critical industries and major companies getting caught in the crossfire.

Investors are hopeful that a breakthrough might be reached, with the FTSE 100 trading close to its record high this afternoon - see more in our previous post.

All eyes are on the FTSE 100 today as it approaches a new record high. 

The closing high is 8,871 points - recorded on 3 March. 

At the time of writing this, the FTSE 100 was at 8,869. 

That's a slight fall from where it was at midday when it rose to 8,871.53 on the back of positive comments on the US-China trade talks. 

The government is set to announce 拢14.2bn towards building a nuclear power station in Suffolk that will create 10,000 jobs.

Fifteen years after the Sizewell C nuclear power station was proposed, chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to confirm the funding at the GMB union conference tomorrow.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will call it a "golden age" of nuclear to boost the UK's energy security.

Among the jobs will be 1,500 apprenticeships, the government will say.

On Monday, it was revealed Britain's nuclear power sector grew by a quarter in 2024 to 拢20bn compared with three years ago, underpinned by a record workforce which has increased by a third, according to research by the Nuclear Power Association.

About 87,000 people now work in the industry, with the rise largely driven by new nuclear power projects at Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

Sizewell C was initially proposed by French energy company EDF and China General Nuclear Power Group, but in 2022 the Conservative government bought the Chinese company out and the state now owns 83.5% of the project with EDF.

Eurostar has unveiled plans to launch direct services connecting the UK with Germany and Switzerland.

The trains would run from London St Pancras to Frankfurt and Geneva, taking five hours and five hours and 20 minutes respectively.

These routes would be served by a fleet of up to 50 new trains costing approximately 拢1.7bn, running from the "early 2030s".

Whether the services would make stops along the way has not been decided.

A number of hurdles must be overcome before services could launch, such as creating sufficient passenger space at those stations, installing new border checkpoints, and securing access to tracks.

Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave acknowledged that opening new international train routes required "time, investments, expertise, a huge amount of energy, and partnerships".

But she said she had "no doubt" the new direct services will happen because of the "willingness" of Eurostar, passengers and governments.

The UK and Switzerland signed a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at establishing direct train services between the countries.

Decathlon has pledged to offer a full gift card refund for the return of every tent it sells this summer - regardless of how much you have used it.

The sports retailer wants to encourage campers and festival-goers not to abandon tents, which contain as much plastic as 9,000 straws or 200 bottles.

Customers who buy any of its tents online or in store between 9 June and 14 September and return them with proof of purchase before 14 September will receive the full purchase value back.

It's important to note you need to be a Decathlon member at the time of returning the tent.

"Whether you're dancing at Glasto, on a hilltop, or roasting marshmallows with family, your tent deserves more than one weekend of glory," said broadcaster Vick Hope, who is supporting this year's campaign.

The company has expanded the No Tent Left Behind scheme from previous years to include every Decathlon brand tent across both its Quechua and Simond ranges.

Holders of the John Lewis credit card will have to more than double the amount they spend to earn points under its rewards scheme.

From August, customers will receive one point worth 1p for every 拢10 they spend, up from every 拢4.

Rewards for spending in John Lewis stores will remain unchanged, at five points for every 拢4.

Customers will get triple the points for spending in the company's department stores during August, and double in its online store.

Sky News has contacted John Lewis for comment.

By James Sillars, business and economics reporter 

The FTSE 100 is in with a chance of achieving a new record high today.

The closing high is 8,871 points - recorded on 3 March.

The index has not been immune to the trade war uncertainty created by Donald Trump since then. But the apparent easing of many hostilities has helped values recover over the past month.

It is now 8.5% up in the year to date, having opened 0.4% higher today at 8,869.

Housing and energy stocks are leading the way.

Also contributing is Marks and Spencer.

Its shares are 2% up on the news that online sales have been restored.

The retailer suspended them after the ransomware attack on the company in April, which the company says will cost it 拢300m.

Marks & Spencer has resumed some online clothes orders six weeks after a damaging cyberattack that the retailer says will cost it hundreds of millions.

"Select fashion ranges" are now available again for the first time in 46 days.

Hackers broke into its systems in April by tricking employees at a third-party contractor, skirting its digital defences, according to the company.

"We are bringing back online shopping this week," said John Lyttle, managing director of fashion, home and beauty.

"A selection of our best-selling fashion ranges will be available for home delivery to England, Scotland and Wales.

"More of our fashion, home and beauty products will be added every day and we will resume deliveries to Northern Ireland and Click and Collect in the coming weeks."

M&S stopped taking clothing and home orders through its website and app on 25 April.

Three days earlier, it said it was managing a "cyber incident", with problems for its contactless pay and click and collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. 

Last month, M&S said it expected online disruption to continue into July and forecast the attack would cost it 拢300m.

By James Sillars, business and economics reporter

UK unemployment rose to the highest level in four years in April while payrolled employment has fallen sharply since, according to official figures covering the period when budget tax hikes on businesses came into effect.

The Office for National Statistics said the new unemployment rate covering the three months to April was the highest since July 2021.

It had previously stood at 4.5%, a total of more than 1.6 million people.

At 4.6%, it is above the peak level predicted for this year, just in March, by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Figures from the taxman also highlighted by the ONS showed the number of people in payrolled employment during May fell by 109,000 - double April's revised figure of 55,000.

The ONS Labour Force Survey data was the first to cover April's rises in employer national insurance contributions and the national living wage - hikes to costs for businesses which lobby groups had warned would result in job losses, price rises and lower wage settlements.