FTSE 100 Set to Rise as Bitcoin Hits New Heights Above $80,000

The FTSE 100 index is expected to open modestly higher on Tuesday, with futures indicating a gain of around 18 points or 0.2% after closing Monday at 10,854.32.

Markets are also weighing the latest expansion of US sanctions against Iran and fresh political uncertainty in the UK following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's refusal to rule out tax increases in the next budget.

Sterling has eased to around $1.3624 while Wall Street finished mixed overnight, with the Dow Jones gaining 0.3% but the S&P 500 falling 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 0.8%.

The standout move came from Bitcoin which climbed 4.7% to around $80,700 after reaching an intraday high of $81,104 its strongest level since May.