---
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"
date: 2026-08-06
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/ftse-100-slips-as-wpp-and-easyjet-lift-mid-caps-to-record-close/"
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"]
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format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# FTSE 100 Slips as WPP and easyJet Lift Mid-Caps to Record Close

**Published:** August 6, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**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)

---

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**.

The 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%**.

Fresh 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.

In 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.

Among 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.

**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.

**Persimmon** rose **2.9%** after reporting better-than-expected interim earnings and maintaining guidance for around **12,500 home completions** this year.

Ex-dividend trading weighed on several heavyweight stocks, with **Relx**, **Rolls-Royce** and **AstraZeneca** among the largest drags on the FTSE 100.

On 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.

Looking 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.

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