FTSE 100 Modestly Higher
(RTTNews) - The UK market remains firmly placed in positive territory a little past noon on Wednesday, holding gains after a steady start, amid rising optimism about the European Union striking a deal with the U.S. in the coming weeks.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 21.89 points or 0.25% at 8,876.07 about half-an-hour past noon.
British American Tobacco is rising 2.7%. Smith & Nephew is gaining 1.8%, while Centrica, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Legal & General, Barclays, Shell, HSBC Holdings, Natwest Group, Intermediate Capital Group, Spirax Group, Imperial Brands and IMI are up 1 to 1.5%.
Energy services firm Hunting Plc is soaring more than 10% after reporting strong half-year results and launching a $40 million share repurchase program.
Galliford Try Holdings shares are up more than 3%. The construction group said it expects to report full year 2025 revenue and adjusted pre-tax profit slightly above the upper end of current market forecasts.
Shares of advertising major WPP Plc are tanking more than 14% after the company trimmed its outlook for first half and fiscal 2025.
Glencore is down by about 2.1%, while Anglo American Plc, EasyJet, Fresnillo, JD Sports Fashion, Antofagasta, Rentokil Initial, Marks & Spencer and B&M European Value Retail are down 1 to 1.7%.
Close Brothers Group Plc are down more than 4%. The merchant banking group said it plans to scale back its premium finance division in a bid to cut costs and focus on its offerings for businesses.
FTSE 100 Slips As Yields Spike, Sterling Plunges
CAC 40 Slips Amidst Fiscal Concerns
DAX Dips As Inflation Spike Hurts Sentiment
Sensex, Nifty Give Up Early Gains To End Lower
Pound Slides After UK Starmer's Reshuffle
Eurozone Inflation Rises Slightly To 2.1%
European Shares Slide As Inflation Accelerates
