FTSE 100 Rises on Geopolitical Easing, Bunzl and Amazon Announce Key Moves

The FTSE 100 opened higher on Tuesday, climbing 0.4% by 07:22 GMT, as global markets welcomed news of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The British pound also strengthened, rising 0.6% against the dollar to surpass $1.35. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 followed suit, gaining 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the ceasefire via a Truth Social post, signaling an end to recent hostilities, while Israel stated it had achieved its objectives. The truce fueled optimism among investors seeking geopolitical stability.

UK Corporate Updates

• Bunzl plc (LSE:BNZL) shares gained 2% after the distribution group confirmed its first-half 2025 performance was in line with expectations. The company reaffirmed full-year guidance, citing stable margins and revenue growth of around 4% at constant exchange rates. Bunzl also announced a strategic acquisition in Brazil, further expanding its footprint in Latin America.
• AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) received U.S. approval for its Datroway lung cancer treatment for patients previously treated with chemotherapy. The regulatory win strengthens the company’s oncology portfolio.
• Telecom Plus (LSE:TEP) posted an 8.1% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £126.3 million, meeting forecasts despite a 9.9% decline in revenue. Adjusted EPS increased 9.4% to 119.2p, reflecting stronger profitability and operational efficiency.
• Sthree Plc (LSE:STEM) reported a 14% drop in group net fees in H1 FY25 but maintained its full-year profit guidance of £25 million. Improved demand in the U.S. engineering sector helped stabilize its Q2 performance.
• Policymaking & Government Spending: Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to raise UK defense and security expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035. The government also announced a £1 billion investment in a national biosecurity center.
• Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) unveiled plans to invest £40 billion in the UK over the next three years, supporting AI innovation, logistics upgrades, and the creation of 4,000 new jobs. The investment could add an estimated £38 billion to UK GDP.
• Rio Tinto (LSE:RIO) and Hancock Prospecting committed $1.61 billion to develop the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in Western Australia, furthering their resource ambitions in the Pilbara region.
• Regulatory Watch: The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed designating Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), with “strategic market status” under new digital regulations aimed at fostering competition in online search.