{"id":139262,"title":"FTSE 100 Slips as WPP and easyJet Lift Mid-Caps to Record Close","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-06T16:21:33+00:00","modified":"2026-08-06T16:21:33+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-slips-as-wpp-and-easyjet-lift-mid-caps-to-record-close/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-slips-as-wpp-and-easyjet-lift-mid-caps-to-record-close.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-slips-as-wpp-and-easyjet-lift-mid-caps-to-record-close.json","category":"Blogs","categories":["Blogs","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["Asia","Bangkok","Denmark","Endeavour Mining","Fed","Federal Reserve","Finland","FRANCE","FTSE 100","GERMANY","Glencore","Greenland plan","Hong kong","Japan","London","Manila","mining stocks","Mumbai","Nasdaq Composite","NATO alliance","Netherlands","Nikkei 225","Norway","S&P 500","shanghai","Singapore","Sweden","Sydney","Taiwan","UK","United States","Wall Street","Wellington"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FTSE-100-16-OCT-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C675&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"The **FTSE 100** edged lower on Thursday despite a strong batch of corporate earnings, while the **FTSE 250** reached a record closing high, supported by sharp gains in **WPP** and **easyJet**.\n\nThe FTSE 100 finished **20.41 points, or 0.2%, lower at 10,867.89**, while the FTSE 250 gained **62.79 points, or 0.3%, to a record close of 24,695.42**. The AIM All-Share added **0.7%**.\n\nFresh data showed the UK’s construction sector remained in contraction during July, although conditions improved. The S&P Global UK Construction PMI rose to **44.7** from **38.4**, its highest reading in four months, but remained below the 50-point threshold separating expansion from contraction.\n\nIn Europe, weaker-than-expected retail sales weighed on sentiment, while Wall Street traded mixed ahead of Friday’s closely watched US non-farm payrolls report, which investors expect to provide fresh clues on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path.\n\nAmong the blue chips, **Diageo** climbed **5.6%** after unveiling a new strategic plan that includes **US$1 billion** of cost savings and forecasting a return to sustainable earnings growth.\n\n**Admiral** gained **5.2%** after reporting first-half results and saying pricing improvements in its motor insurance business should support stronger profits in the second half.\n\n**Persimmon** rose **2.9%** after reporting better-than-expected interim earnings and maintaining guidance for around **12,500 home completions** this year.\n\nEx-dividend trading weighed on several heavyweight stocks, with **Relx**, **Rolls-Royce** and **AstraZeneca** among the largest drags on the FTSE 100.\n\nOn the FTSE 250, **WPP** soared **29%** after reaffirming its full-year outlook and reporting an improving second quarter, while **easyJet** rose **2.8%** after agreeing to a **715p-per-share** takeover by Apollo following the withdrawal of rival bidder Castlelake.\n\nLooking ahead, investor attention now turns to Friday’s US employment report, with July non-farm payrolls expected to play a key role in shaping expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision."}