"The yield on the 10-year gilt rose to 5.103%, the highest in decades."
Market Turmoil as UK 10-Year Gilt Yield Surges Past 5%
February 25, 2026 — Yields on UK government bonds (gilts) rose sharply on Wednesday, hitting multi-decade highs as political pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The 10-year benchmark yield reached 5.103% at 8:41 a.m. London time, a jump of 10 basis points from the previous close. Bond yields and prices move inversely; rising yields indicate falling prices, reflecting heightened market anxiety.
The sharp move coincided with renewed calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, adding a layer of political uncertainty to an already volatile trading session.
Context: A Day of Divergence
Just one day prior, on February 24, 2026, Starmer held a cabinet meeting marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While that session focused on foreign policy and security, the market’s reaction on Wednesday signals a shift in investor focus toward domestic political stability.