FX.co ★ FTSE 100 Hovers at Record High Ahead BoE

The FTSE 100 was broadly flat on Thursday, hovering near record highs, as investors awaited the Bank of England’s policy decision and digested a wave of corporate earnings that drove sharp stock-specific moves. Shell gained around 1.5% after posting its strongest quarterly profit since early 2022 and announcing a new share buyback programme. Rolls-Royce advanced more than 4% after lifting its 2026 guidance, while BAE Systems rose about 2% following an upgrade to its sales outlook. Lloyds Banking Group added over 0.5% after beating profit expectations, unveiling a new five-year strategy and announcing a £1 billion share buyback. In contrast, London Stock Exchange Group fell more than 2.5% despite improving its guidance and launching a £1.4 billion buyback. Haleon and BAT also traded lower, and Rentokil Initial tumbled more than 15% after issuing profit guidance broadly in line with expectations. Attention now turns to the BoE, which is widely expected to leave interest rates on hold, following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep policy unchanged.