The FTSE 100 traded little changed on Thursday, holding near record levels, as investors awaited the Bank of England’s policy decision, with a flurry of corporate earnings driving sharp moves across the index.
Shell rose around 1.5% after reporting its strongest quarterly profit since early 2022, while announcing a fresh share buyback.
Rolls-Royce climbed more than 4% after raising its 2026 guidance, while BAE Systems gained about 2% after upgrading its sales outlook.
Lloyds Banking added over 0.5% after beating profit forecasts, unveiling a 5-year strategy and announcing a £1 billion share buyback.
Conversely, LSE Group fell more than 2.5% despite improving guidance and launching a £1.4 billion buyback.
Haleon and BAT also declined, while Rentokil Initial slumped more than 15% after issuing an in-line profit outlook.
Investors now await the BoE, which is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep policy steady.