Thursday, 29 October 2026
- FIVE AT FIVE: London ends in the green despite Alphabet's horror show, Shell shines and Haleon plunges 12%
That's your five for Thursday.
- St James's Place shares fall 4% as net inflows miss forecasts by 35%
St James's Place were down 4% in mid-afternoon trading after third-quarter net inflows fell well short of forecasts.
- Shell shares rise 3% as $5bn buyback and strong cash flow beat forecasts
Shell shares rose 3.2% to 4,083.5p after the oil and gas group beat third-quarter forecasts on earnings and cash flow and raised its share buyback to $5…
- Haleon shares plunge 12% as sales miss forces forecast cut and analysts warn of a margin reset
Haleon shares fell 12% to 329p after the consumer health group missed third-quarter sales forecasts and cut its 2026 growth guidance.
- JP Morgan turns bearish on Vodafone after Niel-fuelled rally as German, Kenyan and fibre risks mount
JP Morgan has told clients that near-term risks for Vodafone, the FTSE 100 telecoms group, look skewed to the downside after a sharp rally driven by Xavier…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London open higher buoyed by Shell's performance Update
The blue-chip index advanced 42 points to 10.738, buoyed by a strong update from Shell, an index heavyweight.
- Lloyds shares fall 3% as nine-month profit jumps 42% but a spattering of small misses disappoints
Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 3% to 100.8p after the UK high street lender reported figures that missed analyst forecasts on revenue, capital and tangible…
- IMI nudges up 2026 profit guidance as truck recovery and Truflo Marine delay help
IMI, the FTSE 100 valves and actuators maker, raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to between 137p and 143p, from 136p to 142p.
- Magnum raises 2026 sales growth outlook to 5.5% after hot summer lifts ice cream sales
The Magnum Ice Cream Company, the Amsterdam-based maker of Magnum, Ben & Jerry's and Cornetto, raised its full-year organic sales growth forecast to about…
- St James's Place net inflows slow as funds under management hit record £242nm
St James's Place, the FTSE 100 wealth manager, said net inflows fell to £570 million in the third quarter from £1.76 billion a year earlier, although funds…
- Hutchmed's sovleplenib wins US orphan drug status for rare blood disorder
Hutchmed, the Hong Kong-based drug developer, said the US Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to sovleplenib for primary immune…
- WPP keeps 2026 guidance as underlying sales decline narrows, with Coca-Cola and DoorDash wins
WPP, the London-listed advertising and marketing group, said third-quarter revenue less pass-through costs fell 2.1% on a like-for-like basis to £2.411…
- Glencore keeps 2026 output guidance and expects marketing profit above $5bn
Glencore, the Swiss-based mining and commodities trading group, said third-quarter production was in line with expectations and left its full-year guidance…
- Haleon cuts sales growth forecast as cold and flu weakness and a China supplement ban bite
Haleon, the consumer health group behind Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol, trimmed its 2026 sales growth forecast to around 2.5% after third-quarter organic…
- Whitbread says Budget business rates freeze could save it up to £60m
Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, said the Government's decision to freeze business rates for hospitality firms in England will have a significant positive…
- Lloyds nine-month profit jumps 42% to £6.6bn as motor finance charge falls away
Lloyds Banking Group, the UK high street lender, reported a 42% rise in statutory pre-tax profit to £6.6 billion for the first nine months of 2026, up from…
- Shell announces $5bn buyback as record refining margins lift third-quarter earnings to $10.8bn
Shell, the London-listed oil and gas group, reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $10.8 billion and announced a $5 billion share buyback for the next…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London shares set to open higher. Alphabet tumbles after hours Update
The FTSE 100 is set to open 40 points higher, ignoring a mixed session in Asia.
- FTSE 100 LIVE: Asian markets mixed as Korea slides, ASX and Japan gain after Fed decision
Asian markets were mixed on Thursday as investors digested the US Federal Reserve’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged, a fresh batch of technology…