UK equities mixed as investors assess slew of corporate earnings, US-EU trade deal
The benchmark FTSE 100 (.FTSE), opens new tab rose 0.4% as of 0934 GMT, while the domestically focused midcap FTSE 250 index (.FTMC), opens new tab was down 0.3%.
Healthcare stocks (.FTNMX201030), opens new tab led the sectoral gains, up 1.8%, with AstraZeneca (AZN.L), opens new tab rising 2.8% after the drugmaker beat second-quarter revenue and profit expectations.
Chemical stocks (.FTNMX552010), opens new tab lost 2.5%, dragged down by Croda International (CRDA.L), opens new tab, which fell 5.1% after the chemical company reported first-half sales below estimates.
Industrial miners (.FTNMX551020), opens new tab lost 1%, tracking lower copper prices. Glencore (GLEN.L), opens new tab and Anglo American (AAL.L), opens new tab fell 2.4% and 1.2% respectively.
Among other corporate updates, Games Workshop (GAW.L), opens new tab surged 6.3%, to top the FTSE 100 index, after the miniature wargames maker reported a nearly 30% jump in annual pre-tax profit.
Entain (ENT.L), opens new tab rose 1.4% after the company's U.S. sports-betting joint venture with MGM Resorts (MGM.N), opens new tab called BetMGM raised its full-year 2025 revenue and core earnings forecast.
Inchcape (INCH.L), opens new tab lost 9.6%, top loser on the FTSE 250 midcap index, after the car distributor reported a 4% drop in first-half adjusted pre-tax profit at constant currency.
Greggs (GRG.L), opens new tab fell 4.9% after reporting a 14% fall in first-half profit.
A survey showed British shop prices rose by the most in more than a year in the 12 months to July and food prices grew more strongly.
The Bank of England is expected to cut borrowing costs on August 7 for the fifth time since August last year.
Meanwhile, investors weighed the impact of a new 15% levy on most European Union goods, which is significantly higher than pre-2025 levels.
Ahead of the August 1 tariff deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump said a blanket 15% to 20% "world tariff" rate would be extended toward trading partners who do not negotiate separate trade deals with the U.S.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials resumed their trade talks for a second day in Stockholm to resolve economic disputes, while seeking to extend the previous tariff truce by three months.
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