The FTSE 100 edged higher on Thursday, outperforming its European peers, driven by strength in energy and consumer stocks. Shell and BP gained 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively, while Unilever advanced 0.8% and BAT rose 1.9%. By contrast, pharmaceutical and defence names weakened: AstraZeneca and GSK each slipped 0.4%, Rolls-Royce lost more than 1%, and BAE Systems declined 0.6%.
Oil prices remained volatile after the US again signalled that substantial volumes continued to move through the Strait of Hormuz, even as investors tracked diplomatic efforts to bring the Iran war to an end.
In corporate news, Halma added 0.2% after lifting its margin guidance and reaffirming expectations for 30% revenue growth in its AI-exposed Photonics division. Vistry swung to a first-half loss following a £475 million impairment and a revision to its order-book definition. Raspberry Pi reported rising second-half volumes and said memory inventories remained adequate to meet its full-year targets.
