U.K. equities traded in negative territory on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 index falling and the pound slipping against the dollar while long-dated government bond yields touched levels not seen since 1998.
By 12:10 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.6%, while sterling lost 1.2% against the dollar, trading at $1.33. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s DAX index shed 1.6% and France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.4%.
Ithaca Energy hit as Delek, Eni trim stakes
Shares of Ithaca Energy (LSE:ITH) sank more than 10% after key shareholders Delek Group and Italy’s Eni offloaded roughly £106 million ($143 million) worth of stock, sharply cutting their positions in the London-listed oil and gas group.
Oxford Nanopore retreats despite upbeat results
Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd (LSE:ONT) reported narrower first-half losses, alongside revenue of £105.6 million—up 28% at constant currency and 25.6% on a reported basis—comfortably ahead of expectations. The company also reaffirmed its full-year guidance and medium-term outlook. Still, the stock slumped over 9%, with some investors seemingly disappointed that management did not raise forecasts.
Uniphar posts solid interim performance
Uniphar Group PLC (LSE:UPR) reported revenue of €1.49 billion for the six months to June 30, 2025, marking an 8.6% year-over-year increase. Gross profit climbed 6.3% to €219.7 million, with organic growth of 8.1%. Adjusted earnings per share rose 21% to 9.8 cents.
Centrica extends nuclear power station lifespans
Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA) confirmed a one-year extension for the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations, enabling operations to continue until March 2028. Centrica owns a 20% stake in both facilities, with EDF holding the remaining share.
Johnson Service Group jumps on results and buyback
Johnson Service Group Plc (LSE:JSG) surged 9% after announcing strong first-half numbers and unveiling a new £25 million share repurchase program. The textile rental and laundry company delivered adjusted operating profit of £28.7 million, up 13.9% from £25.2 million last year, on revenue of £257.5 million, a 5.5% increase driven by 1.4% organic growth.
BAT slips after downgrade
British American Tobacco PLC (LSE:BATS) dropped more than 2% after RBC Capital Markets cut its rating to “underperform” from “sector perform.” Analysts pointed to ongoing weaknesses in BAT’s New Categories division, warning that expectations for vaping, heated tobacco, and modern oral products were “seriously overblown,” and that the company continues to trail Philip Morris International in the most profitable areas.
Low-cost carriers report strong passenger growth
Ryanair Holdings PLC (LSE:0RYA) carried a record 21.0 million passengers in August, up 2% from a year ago, while keeping its load factor at 96%. Wizz Air Holdings PLC (LSE:WIZZ) also posted strong traffic, with passenger numbers jumping 17% to 7.3 million, although its load factor dipped slightly by 0.6 percentage points to 94.8%. Wizz Air remains on track to hit its second-quarter consensus forecast of 19.6 million passengers, implying September growth of 3.1%.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. It should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Leave a Reply