London equities moved higher on Friday, with the FTSE 100 advancing as broader European markets also traded in positive territory. Meanwhile, sterling edged lower against the dollar, slipping beneath the $1.35 mark, as investors digested corporate developments from Anglo American and Aston Martin.
By 08:45 GMT, the benchmark FTSE 100 was up 0.3%, while the pound declined 0.1% to $1.3451. On the continent, Germany’s DAX added 0.1% and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.6%.
UK Market Round-Up
Economic update – UK consumer spending showed strong momentum at the start of the year. Retail sales rose 1.8% month on month in January, well above December’s 0.4% increase and significantly exceeding economists’ expectations of a 0.2% gain. On an annual basis, sales climbed 4.5%, outperforming forecasts of 2.8%. Data from the Office for National Statistics pointed to a solid rebound in goods-related consumption.
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc (LSE:AML) – The luxury carmaker reported lower wholesale volumes for 2025, delivering 5,448 vehicles compared with 6,030 in the previous year. In a move to strengthen its liquidity position, the group agreed to sell its Formula One naming rights to a related entity for £50 million. Management expects gross margins for 2025 to come in at around 29.5%.
Anglo American plc (LSE:AAL) – The miner posted a $3.7 billion loss, primarily due to additional impairments in its diamond division. The company continues to streamline its portfolio by divesting non-core assets while advancing plans for a merger with Teck Resources.
Tullow Oil plc (LSE:TLW) – The oil producer generated approximately $100 million in free cash flow in 2025, below earlier guidance. Average daily output stood at 40.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, reflecting the impact of the sale of its Gabon operations. The group recently completed a refinancing agreement to restructure its debt.
AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Calquence, in combination with venetoclax, as a fixed-duration, all-oral therapy for certain forms of leukemia and lymphoma. The decision follows positive Phase III trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
HSBC Holdings plc (LSE:HSBA) – As part of a broader cost-cutting initiative, the banking group has reportedly reduced its U.S. debt capital markets workforce by around 10%. The cuts included several senior roles in New York, spanning analysts through to managing director level.
Diageo plc (LSE:DGE) – Chief executive Dave Lewis is said to be preparing changes to the company’s 14-member executive committee. The reported overhaul is aimed at tackling internal cultural issues within the drinks group, which owns brands such as Johnnie Walker and Guinness.
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