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| Yesterday’s UK 100 Leaders | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Smith & Nephew PLC | 1,107.5 | 6.1% |
| BAE Systems PLC | 1,346.4 | 3.2% |
| Standard Chartered PLC | 1,201.0 | 2.1% |
| GSK PLC | 1,481.5 | 2.0% |
| HSBC Holdings PLC | 894.5 | 1.9% |
| Yesterday’s UK 100 Laggards | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC | 336.0 | -4.3% |
| Rio Tinto PLC | 4,840.0 | -3.3% |
| Endeavour Mining PLC | 1,619.0 | -3.3% |
| Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC | 1,039.5 | -3.2% |
| Ashtead Group PLC | 4,689.0 | -3.0% |
| Major World Indices | Price | % Chg | 1 YEAR |
| UK 100 INDEX | 8,669 | 0.1% | 12.5% |
| DOW JONES INDUS. AVG | 43,621 | 0.4% | 11.5% |
| DAX INDEX | 22,410 | -0.1% | 28.7% |
| NIKKEI 225 | 38,238 | -1.4% | -2.5% |
| S&P/ASX 200 INDEX | 8,252 | -0.7% | 7.8% |
| Commodities | Units | Price | % Chg |
| WTI Crude Oil (Nymex) | USD/bbl. | 69.03 | -2.36% |
| Brent Crude (ICE) | USD/bbl. | 73.12 | -2.22% |
| Gold Spot | USD/t oz. | 2,915 | 0.0% |
| Copper (Comex) | USd/lb. | 469 | 2.7% |
Click graph to enlarge
The UK 100 called to open +58 points at 8,726. The UK 100 looks set to open sharply higher this morning, this comes as bond yields have dropped and the pound has dropped against the US Dollar.
The S&P fell for a fourth consecutive session on Tuesday as traders weighed concerns around economic growth and global trade. The broad market index slipped 0.47%, closing at 5,955.25. The Nasdaq dropped 1.35% to end the day at 19,026.39. Nvidia 's 2.8% fall led the tech-heavy index's decline ahead of the Nvidia’s results announcement after the bell this evening. The Nasdaq this week slipped into negative territory for the year. The Dow Jones was the standout performing index, advancing 159.95 points, or 0.37%, to close at 43,621.16. Markets took a leg lower after the most recent consumer confidence survey from the Conference Board came in much weaker than economists' estimates. This follows a series of disappointing data releases last week, including lackluster manufacturing and retail sales numbers. Cautious forward guidance from Walmart added to worsening sentiment on consumer health and the economy.
Asian markets mostly rose on Wednesday after a poor start to the week, with Hong Kong boosted by a rebound in tech firms that had taken a hit from US moves to curb Chinese investments in the country. Hong Kong climbed more than two percent and continues to be the regional standout thanks to a race to snap up long-neglected tech names thanks to DeepSeek. It has also been helped by Beijing's moves to bring the firms in from the cold after years of government crackdowns on the industry. E-commerce heavyweight Alibaba was again at the forefront of the advances, rallying nearly 5%, with rival JD.com up around 7%, Tencent more than 2% higher and Netease 3.6% higher.
Aston Martin said on Wednesday it will cut about 5% of its global workforce, or 170 employees, to further reduce costs and drive future investments. Results out this morning showed an average selling prices are now almost £250k, volumes are down and gross margins dropped by 220bps as well. There was a modest improvement in operating losses and year-end liquidity was in line with guidance, although the company suggested a more optimistic tone being struck for the year ahead. Positive adjusted EBIT is expected for FY ’25 with free cash flow being recognised in the second half.
Hammerson today announced occupancy improved to above 95% and headline income already secured for the year ahead also looks strong. Footfall and sales across the company’s estate remains ahead of national benchmarks and investors will see a 4% uptick in the full-year dividend payments.
Metro Bank has this morning announced the sale of a portfolio of unsecured personal loans with an aggregate value of just under £600m. These are performing assets as opposed to being delinquent and the transaction will generate £11m on the day of sale for Metro Bank. This will improve the bank’s capital position and in turn allow it to look at rotation into higher-yielding assets.
No New Broker Comments
UK
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML)
Hammerson* (HMSO)
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK)
Morgan Sindall (MGNS)
Rathbone Brothers (RAT)
US
Marathon Digital (MARA) AMC
NVIDIA (NVDA) AMC
Salesforce (CRM) AMC
Snowflake (SNOW) AMC
Synopsys (SNPS) AMC
Teladoc Health (TDOC) AMC
UK
Aviva (AV.)
Derwent London (DLN)
Drax Group (DRX)
Genus (GNS)
Greencoat UK Wind* (UKW)
Howden Joinary Group (HWDN)
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP)
London Stock Exchange Group (LSE)
Man Group (EMG)
Metro Bank Holdings (MTRO)
Ocado Group (OCDO)
PPHE Hotel Group (PPH)
Rolls-Royce Group (RR.)
Serco Group (SRP)
Shaftsbury Capital (SHC)
St James Place (STJ)
Taylor Wimpey (TW.)
WPP Group (WPP)
Haleon (HLN)
US
Viatris (VTRS) PMO
HP (HPQ) AMC
German GfK Consumer Confidence Survey
US New Home Sales Change
BoE's Dhingra speech
Fed's Bostic speech
UK 100 companies going ex-dividend on 27th February 2025:
Barclays
Diageo
Unilever
Alliance Witan
UK 250 companies going ex-dividend on 27th February 2025:
Plus500
Ashmore Group
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust
Diversified Energy Company
PayPoint
Hays
Scottish American Investment Company
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