ADVFN UK Market News

Category: Top Story

  • FTSE 100 Rises as Oil Shares Advance; GSK and Beazley Draw Attention

    FTSE 100 Rises as Oil Shares Advance; GSK and Beazley Draw Attention

    UK equities opened higher, with sentiment improving after AI-related concerns that pressured software stocks in the previous session began to fade. Strength in oil majors, alongside company-specific news from GSK plc (LSE:GSK) and takeover target Beazley PLC (LSE:BEZ), helped lift the benchmark index.

    Energy stocks provided the largest boost to the FTSE 100, as BP PLC (LSE:BP.) and Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL) moved higher in line with rising crude prices. Oil markets were supported by escalating tensions between the US and Iran, underpinning gains across the sector. By 0934 GMT, the blue-chip index was up 0.6%, while sterling strengthened 0.1% against the dollar to $1.3710. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s DAX slipped 0.5%, while France’s CAC 40 rose 0.4%.

    In UK stock-specific news, Beazley shares jumped 8.5% after the insurer received a takeover approach from Zurich Insurance Group valuing the business at about £8 billion. Zurich’s sixth proposal offers 1,335 pence per share, made up of 1,310 pence in cash plus permitted dividends of up to 25 pence for the year ended December 31, 2025, representing a 4.2% increase on its prior bid.

    GSK was also in focus after the drugmaker outlined a slower pace of sales growth for 2026. The company expects revenue to rise between 3% and 5% on a constant-currency basis, compared with 7% growth in 2025, while core earnings per share are forecast to increase by 7% to 9%. Vaccine sales are projected to range from a low single-digit decline to “stable.” GSK shares rose more than 1% following the update.

    Watches Of Switzerland Group PLC (LSE:WOSG) reported strong third-quarter trading across both the US and UK during the Holiday period, noting that demand for its core luxury brands continues to outstrip supply in both markets.

    DCC plc (LSE:DCC) said it delivered solid operating profit growth in its fiscal third quarter, supported by organic growth and the initial contribution from its Austrian acquisition FLAGA, while reiterating its full-year outlook for good profit growth.

    Meanwhile, SSE PLC (LSE:SSE) maintained its guidance for 2025/26 adjusted earnings per share of 144–152 pence. The midpoint of the range sits around 2% below market consensus, which the company attributed to mixed weather conditions affecting renewable generation, despite otherwise strong operational performance.

  • GSK Flags Slower Top-Line Momentum for 2026 in First Outlook Under New CEO

    GSK Flags Slower Top-Line Momentum for 2026 in First Outlook Under New CEO

    GSK (LSE:GSK) said it expects sales growth to moderate in 2026, forecasting revenue growth of between 3% and 5% on a constant-currency basis, down from the 7% increase delivered in 2025. The guidance marks the company’s first forward outlook since the appointment of chief executive Luke Miels.

    The group said core earnings per share are expected to increase by 7% to 9% in 2026. Vaccine sales are projected to range from a low single-digit decline to being “stable,” while Specialty Medicines revenue is anticipated to grow by a low double-digit percentage. General Medicines sales are forecast to sit between a low single-digit fall and “stable,” reflecting mixed demand trends across the portfolio.

    The outlook comes as GSK looks to navigate upcoming patent expiries linked to its leading HIV treatments by broadening and strengthening its drug development pipeline. “2026 will be a key year of execution and operational delivery,” Miels said in a statement.

    For the fourth quarter of 2025, GSK reported core earnings per share of 25.5 pence as turnover rose 8% to £8.62 billion. Total operating profit jumped 65% to £1.1 billion, lifting the operating margin to 12.8%, an improvement of 4.6 percentage points. On a core basis, operating profit increased 18% to £1.63 billion, with the core operating margin rising to 19%, up 1.6 percentage points.

    Commenting on the full-year performance, Miels said: “GSK delivered another strong performance in 2025, driven mainly by Specialty Medicines, with double-digit sales growth in Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation (RI&I), Oncology and HIV.”

  • SSE Increases Networks Investment While Sticking to FY26 Earnings Guidance

    SSE Increases Networks Investment While Sticking to FY26 Earnings Guidance

    SSE plc (LSE:SSE) reported a strong third-quarter performance, supported by a sharp increase in regulated networks spending and higher renewable generation output. Investment in networks rose 64% year on year to £1.8 billion, while renewable generation increased by 7%, helping the group maintain its adjusted earnings per share guidance of 144–152 pence for the 2025/26 financial year despite mixed weather conditions.

    The company said it is making rapid progress on its £33 billion “Transformation for Growth” programme, having now secured around three quarters of the key consents required for major transmission projects. SSE has moved a fifth large transmission scheme into full construction, put new bank facilities in place backed by state guarantees, and continued to advance flagship offshore wind developments including Berwick Bank B and Dogger Bank. Management said these milestones reinforce SSE’s pivotal role in the UK’s energy transition and underpin its long-term earnings growth ambitions.

    Looking ahead, SSE’s outlook is anchored by its large-scale strategic investment plan and supportive technical indicators. These positives are tempered by concerns around financial performance, particularly cash flow dynamics, as well as a relatively elevated valuation. Even so, recent corporate actions and guidance from management point to a clear strategic direction, supporting a constructive long-term view.

    More about SSE plc

    SSE plc is a UK-based energy company focused on regulated electricity networks and renewable power generation. Its portfolio includes onshore and offshore wind, hydro and flexible thermal generation, with a strong emphasis on expanding transmission infrastructure in the north of Scotland and growing its low-carbon energy assets.

  • Gulf Keystone Targets Oslo Dual Listing With Nordic Retail Share Offer

    Gulf Keystone Targets Oslo Dual Listing With Nordic Retail Share Offer

    Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd (LSE:GKP) said it is planning to pursue a dual listing of its shares on Euronext Growth Oslo, alongside its existing London Stock Exchange listing, as part of a strategy to enhance trading liquidity, widen its investor base and improve long-term access to capital. The move is also intended to support a future uplisting to the Oslo Stock Exchange’s Main Market.

    To meet the requirements for admission in Oslo, the company will launch a fully underwritten retail private placement of new shares, with a total value of up to the Norwegian krone equivalent of €1 million. The shares will be offered to retail investors in Norway and Sweden at a price set at a 10% discount to the London volume-weighted average price. Gulf Keystone said one of its major shareholders has agreed to underwrite the offering and plans to transfer a significant portion of its existing shareholding to the Norwegian market, highlighting strong backing for the dual listing strategy.

    Overall, Gulf Keystone’s outlook continues to reflect a solid financial position and supportive corporate developments, balanced against valuation considerations and ongoing operational and geopolitical risks. The company’s ability to maintain cash flow generation and manage regional uncertainties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will remain key factors influencing future performance.

    More about Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd

    Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd is a London-listed independent oil and gas operator focused on exploration, development and production activities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The company targets both institutional and retail investors across international capital markets.

  • YouGov Signals Cautious Growth as AI Spending Builds

    YouGov Signals Cautious Growth as AI Spending Builds

    YouGov plc (LSE:YOU) said its half-year trading update to 31 January 2026 points to low single-digit revenue growth, supported by continued momentum in the Research division and resilient renewals across its Data Products business. Performance in YouGov Shopper was softer, largely reflecting the timing of project delivery rather than a deterioration in demand, according to the company.

    Management said targeted investment in artificial intelligence, data automation and platform enhancements is intended to strengthen momentum in the second half of the year, even as broader macroeconomic conditions remain challenging. While YouGov continues to expect modest full-year revenue growth, profitability is likely to depend on tight cost control and the pace at which returns from recent innovation and technology spending begin to materialise. The group confirmed that it will publish its full half-year results on 24 March 2026.

    From a market perspective, YouGov’s overall stock profile continues to reflect solid underlying financial performance and a strategy centred on long-term growth initiatives. Technical indicators are mixed, but valuation levels are viewed as reasonable, with the company’s focus on AI integration and product innovation seen as supportive of future expansion. Investors are, however, keeping an eye on geographic and sector-specific pressures, as well as a rise in leverage, as potential risk factors.

    More about YouGov plc

    YouGov plc is an international research and data analytics company operating across the US, the wider Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India and the Asia-Pacific region. The group leverages a large proprietary online panel and technology platforms to deliver real-time consumer and public opinion insights to media organisations, brands and institutional clients worldwide.

  • European Shares Mixed After Strong Run to New Highs

    European Shares Mixed After Strong Run to New Highs

    European equity markets were mixed on Tuesday, pausing after a strong rally earlier in the session that had pushed several indices to record levels.

    The initial surge was underpinned by calmer conditions in commodity markets, signs of easing trade and geopolitical frictions, and expectations that the U.S. Congress will vote on a spending package to end the government shutdown.

    Sentiment was also supported by data showing that French inflation unexpectedly slowed to a five-year low last month, reinforcing the view that euro zone inflation could remain below the European Central Bank’s target for longer this year.

    By mid-session, Germany’s DAX was up around 0.3%, while France’s CAC 40 was down 0.2% and the UK’s FTSE 100 had fallen 0.7%.

    At the stock level, Fortum Oyj moved lower after reporting 2025 earnings that missed market expectations. Alfa Laval also declined after posting a sequential drop in fourth-quarter margins.

    Shares in Publicis Groupe (EU:PUB) slid sharply after the company reported a full-year profit that was lower than the prior year. Akzo Nobel (EU:AKZA) also came under pressure after adjusted EBITDA fell in the fourth quarter amid weak revenue performance.

    In London, AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) shares dropped after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected a subcutaneous version of its lupus treatment, which would have simplified administration.

    On the upside, Amundi (EU:AMUN) rallied after reporting stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter net inflows, as clients sought greater diversification within Europe and away from the U.S. dollar.

    Meanwhile, Nordex (TG:NDX1) advanced after announcing it had secured a 189MW order from OX2 to supply turbines for the Fagerasen wind farm project in Sweden.

  • European Markets Inch Up as Metals Slide Reverses; Publicis Draws Attention: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European Markets Inch Up as Metals Slide Reverses; Publicis Draws Attention: DAX, CAC, FTSE100

    European equities traded modestly higher on Tuesday, supported by a positive finish on Wall Street overnight and signs that the recent selloff in precious metals was short-lived.

    By 08:05 GMT, Germany’s DAX was up around 0.8%, France’s CAC 40 had added 0.4% and the UK’s FTSE 100 was edging 0.1% higher.

    Calmer metals markets lift sentiment

    After several volatile sessions marked by sharp falls in gold and silver prices late last week and over the weekend, global markets appear to have steadied. Precious metals rebounded on Monday, helping restore confidence and pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average more than 500 points higher, a gain of roughly 1%, on Wall Street.

    Broader sentiment was also buoyed after US President Donald Trump announced late Monday that Washington had reached a trade agreement with India, cutting tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from as high as 50%. The deal followed months of negotiations and was widely interpreted as a move toward easing previously strained trade relations.

    Publicis in focus

    In Europe, attention has returned to the earnings season, with a heavy slate of results from major companies expected this week.

    Publicis Groupe (EU:PUB) was among the stocks in focus after a series of strong client wins helped lift fourth-quarter underlying revenue ahead of expectations at the French advertising group. For 2025, Publicis generated €2.03 billion in free cash flow before working capital movements, up 10.6% year on year, and proposed a dividend of €3.75 per share, an increase of 4.2%, to be paid entirely in cash.

    French asset manager Amundi (EU:AMUN) also reported a solid set of numbers, posting a 6% rise in adjusted pretax income for 2025 to €1.86 billion. The performance was driven by record net inflows of €88 billion as the group launched a new strategic plan running through 2028.

    Elsewhere, Akzo Nobel (EU:AKZA) said fourth-quarter margins improved strongly from a year earlier, as the Dutch paints maker continues to navigate weak demand while pursuing a potential merger with US rival Axalta Coating Systems.

    Investors were also digesting a busy earnings calendar in the United States, including results from PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:MPC), ahead of numbers from Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) due after the close. Sentiment toward AI-related stocks remains fragile following a poorly received update from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last week.

    French inflation surprises on the downside

    Economic data released earlier showed inflation pressures remain muted in France, the euro zone’s second-largest economy. Consumer prices fell 0.3% month on month in January, while the annual rate slowed to just 0.3%, below expectations of 0.6%.

    The European Central Bank meets later this week and is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 2% for a fifth consecutive meeting. ECB President Christine Lagarde may face questions on the impact of a stronger euro on inflation, after the single currency briefly rose above $1.20 last week, its highest level since 2021. Although the euro has since eased, it remains more than 2% higher over the past two weeks.

    Oil prices ease again

    Oil prices moved lower for a second session on Tuesday, as easing tensions between the US and Iran reduced the geopolitical risk premium in crude markets. Brent futures slipped 0.4% to $65.96 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.4% to $61.90.

    Both benchmarks had dropped more than 4% in the previous session after President Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, signalling a potential de-escalation with the OPEC member. Reuters reported on Monday that Iran and the US are expected to resume nuclear talks on Friday in Turkey.

    Additional pressure on prices came from a firmer US dollar, with the dollar index hovering near a one-week high, making dollar-denominated crude more expensive for overseas buyers.

  • FTSE 100 Opens Higher as Metals Recover and Miners Advance; AG Barr Gains

    FTSE 100 Opens Higher as Metals Recover and Miners Advance; AG Barr Gains

    UK equities started Tuesday’s session on a firmer footing, supported by a rebound in metal prices that boosted mining stocks. Broader European markets also traded higher in early deals, outperforming the UK market.

    Mining shares led the gains after recovering from the previous session’s sharp sell-off in precious metals. Producers of gold, silver and copper including Fresnillo PLC (LSE:FRES), Antofagasta PLC (LSE:ANTO), Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV), Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL), Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN) and Rio Tinto PLC (LSE:RIO) were all higher shortly after the open.

    By 08:39 GMT, the FTSE 100 was trading slightly higher, while sterling gained around 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.3686. European peers showed stronger momentum, with Germany’s DAX up 1.1% and France’s CAC 40 rising 0.6%.

    UK roundup

    A.G. Barr reports FY25/26 growth

    A.G. Barr PLC (LSE:BAG) shares rose 6.1% after the soft drinks group said results for FY25/26 met expectations. Revenue increased by around 4% to £437m from £420m a year earlier, while adjusted operating margin improved to approximately 14.7% from 13.6%. The margin expansion of about 110 basis points helped drive double-digit growth in adjusted profit for the year.

    AstraZeneca slips on FDA setback

    AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) shares moved lower after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected the company’s initial application for a subcutaneous injection version of its lupus drug Saphnelo. The group said it has since submitted the requested additional information and is working with the regulator to progress the filing.

    Plus500 launches US prediction markets offering

    Plus500 Ltd (LSE:PLUS) announced it has entered the US retail prediction markets space with the launch of event-based contracts on its Plus500 Futures platform. The new B2C offering includes products from Kalshi Exchange, with transactions cleared directly through Kalshi Klear LLC.

    UK grocery inflation cools

    UK grocery inflation eased to 4.0% in the four weeks to 25 January, marking its lowest level since April last year, according to figures from Worldpanel by Numerator. The reading was down from 4.3% previously, offering modest relief for consumers.

  • Plus500 Shares Jump After Launch of US Prediction Markets Offering

    Plus500 Shares Jump After Launch of US Prediction Markets Offering

    Plus500 Ltd (LSE:PLUS) shares climbed around 7.5% after the fintech group announced its expansion into the US retail prediction markets space. The move comes with the launch of event-based contracts on its US B2C trading platform, Plus500 Futures, marking a new product vertical for the company in a fast-developing segment of the trading industry.

    The London-listed group said the new offering will feature products from Kalshi Exchange, the first US-regulated exchange dedicated to event-based contracts. Through this integration, Plus500’s US customers can trade regulated prediction markets linked to economic data releases, financial market events, geopolitical developments and other clearly defined real-world outcomes.

    Management described the launch as a strategic step in diversifying Plus500’s product suite, leveraging its proprietary technology, clearing memberships and established risk management infrastructure. Trades on the platform will be cleared directly via Plus500’s full clearing membership with Kalshi Klear LLC, providing a fully regulated and transparent framework for participants.

    Plus500 highlighted growing interest in prediction markets from both retail and institutional users, citing their appeal as a structured and compliant way to express views on real-world events. The company said its scalable infrastructure positions it well to support wider adoption of these products, both through direct-to-consumer innovation and business-to-business partnerships.

    The latest launch builds on Plus500’s earlier move into prediction markets in December 2025, when it became the clearing partner for CME Group and FanDuel on the FanDuel Prediction Markets platform. Management said this track record underlines its ambition to play a broader role across the regulated prediction markets ecosystem.

  • Wizz Air Confirms Share Capital Base and Fully Diluted Voting Rights

    Wizz Air Confirms Share Capital Base and Fully Diluted Voting Rights

    Wizz Air Holdings (LSE:WIZZ) has provided an update on its share capital and voting rights structure, confirming that as at 31 January 2026 the company has a single class of ordinary shares in issue. Total issued share capital stands at 103,438,631 shares, with no shares held in treasury, and each share carrying one voting right, subject to proportional disenfranchisement provisions applicable to certain non-qualifying foreign shareholders.

    The airline also disclosed a theoretical fully diluted share count of 127,758,164 shares. This figure assumes the full conversion of outstanding convertible notes alongside the exercise of vested employee share options, offering investors a clearer basis for assessing voting rights, disclosure thresholds and ownership calculations under UK transparency regulations.

    From an investment perspective, the group’s outlook is increasingly supported by an improving financial trajectory, with notably stronger cash generation complemented by positive technical momentum and a relatively low price-to-earnings valuation. These positives are balanced by ongoing balance sheet leverage and execution risks highlighted in recent market commentary, including pressure on unit revenues, rising cost inputs and timing uncertainty associated with the fleet transition.

    More about Wizz Air Holdings

    Wizz Air Holdings is a European ultra-low-cost airline operating under the Wizz Air brand. The group focuses on short-haul, point-to-point routes across Central and Eastern Europe and selected Western European markets, targeting cost-conscious leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travellers. Operating in a highly competitive budget aviation sector, Wizz Air’s strategy centres on maintaining a low-cost base, high aircraft utilisation and network expansion to drive long-term growth.