UK stocks mixed as investors assess corporate earnings amid fiscal worries (updated)
16/10/2025 17:19
FTSE 100 up 0.12%, FTSE 250 down 0.13%
UK economy returns to growth, but only just
Whitbread slumps after profit drop
AstraZeneca falls after stock downgrade
Travis Perkins slips as margin pressure persists
Updates after markets close
Oct 16 (Reuters) - London stocks were mixed on Thursday as investors assessed an assorted bag of corporate updates and remained cautious ahead of next week's UK inflation data amid ongoing fiscal concerns.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE closed up 0.12%, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC declined 0.13%.
Data on Thursday showed that Britain's economy expanded 0.1% in August from July, in line with analyst estimates, offering a small boost to finance minister Rachel Reeves ahead of her November budget. However, the return to growth from a small drop in July is unlikely to change expectations for tax increases.
The UK economy has been struggling with low growth and the highest level of inflation among advanced economies, complicating the task for Bank of England policymakers, who held interest rates at 4% last month.
Investor attention is now turning to next week's inflation data, which could influence whether the BoE reduces rates in November or December, or waits until early 2026.
In the market, insurance stocks .FTNMX303020 were the worst performers by sector, with Admiral Group ADML.L declining 2.4%.
Travel and leisure stocks .FTNMX405010 slipped 1.1%, after Whitbread WTB.L posted a 7% drop in half-year profit, weighed down by weaker food and beverage sales. The owner of Premier Inn hotels was the FTSE 100's biggest faller, sliding 10.3%.
Heavyweight AstraZeneca AZN.L slipped 0.7% after Deutsche Bank downgraded the drugmaker to "sell" from "hold".
Travis Perkins TPK.L fell 3.1% as the building materials supplier flagged ongoing margin pressure and did not provide full-year profit guidance.
Pensions consulting firm XPS Pensions Group XPS.L reported better than expected half-year revenue but gave up earlier gains to close 2% lower.
Conversely, Croda International CRDA.L rose 8.5% to top FTSE 100 gainers, boosting the broader chemicals index .FTNMX552010 by 1.5%. The chemicals manufacturer reported higher sales and maintained its fiscal year profit guidance.
(Reporting by Sanchayaita Roy and Avinash P in Bengaluru. Editing by Vijay Kishore and Mark Potter)
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