London's FTSE 100 rises as Shell boosts energy stocks

By Reuters News

- London's blue-chip index rose on Thursday, supported by gains in the energy sector, while investors awaited crucial inflation data in the US to gauge the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose 0.3% to 10,782.19 points by 1004 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC also climbed 0.3%.

  • Shell SHEL.L rose 3.2%, leading gains on the FTSE 100 after the oil major reported its highest quarterly profit since 2022, and increased its share buyback program

  • Energy stocks .FTNMX601010 outperformed the broader market, with the sector climbing nearly 2.8% despite a dip in oil prices

  • Conversely, Haleon HLN.L slid 15.6%, set for its biggest one-day fall since its IPO in 2022 after the consumer health company cut its organic revenue growth forecast

  • Haleon's slide put the pharma sector .FTNMX201030 on track for another session of sharp declines, after GSK's results on Wednesday disappointed

  • Declines in pharma and banks .FTNMX301010 limited the overall rise. Banks were dragged down by a 4.3% fall in Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L after it reported muted third-quarter results

  • Finance minister John Healey's less-than-feared tax hikes in his budget on banks and gambling firms had sparked a rally in their stocks on Wednesday

  • British defence firms BAE Systems BAES.L and Rolls-Royce RR.L gained 2.6% and 1.1% respectively, extending gains after Healey said "reprioritisation" would fill a £4.7 billion ($6.3 billion) gap in Britain's Defence Investment Plan

  • The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, bringing Thursday's personal consumption expenditure figures under scrutiny

  • National Grid NG.L rose 1.1% after the power grid operator said it plans to invest about £400 million ($531 million) to extend the life of the electricity link between Britain and France until at least 2050

  • WPP WPP.L gained 2.1% after the ad group said its turnaround plan was on track after reporting a smaller decline in third-quarter like-for-like revenue

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