FTSE 100 Ends Week Just Shy of Record High. UK’s stock market closed the week on a strong note, with the FTSE 100 finishing at 8,992.12 – up 19.5 points, or 0.22%.
The index ended the day just below its record closing high of 8,998 set on Monday. Top performers included Rentokil, rising 3%, and Antofagasta, up 2.6%.
Earnings Season Picks Up Pace in UK and US
Reporting season shifts into high gear next week, with a wave of results due from major companies in both London and the US. In the UK, attention will be on the first of the big banks, with Lloyds and NatWest set to report. Other notable blue-chip names releasing figures include BT, Vodafone, ITV, Rightmove, Compass Group, and Wetherspoons.
Monday 21 July
UK Earnings:
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Interims: Mony Group, Oxford Nanopore Technologies
US Earnings (Premarket): Verizon, Domino’s Pizza
US Earnings (After Close): NXP Semiconductors
Tuesday 22 July
UK Highlights:
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Key report: Compass Group (LSE:CPG) – Analysts watching for signs of margin improvement despite recent slowdown in organic growth.
UK Announcements:
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Trading updates: Compass Group, Evoke, Kier Group, Luceco, Mitie Group, Petershill Partners
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Interims: ME Group International
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Finals: TheWorks.co.uk
US Earnings (Premarket): Baker Hughes, Coca-Cola, Philip Morris, Lockheed Martin
US Earnings (After Close): Texas Instruments, SAP
Economic data:
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UK: Public Sector Net Borrowing
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US: API Weekly Crude Oil Stock
Wednesday 23 July
UK Highlights:
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Key report: JD Wetherspoon (LSE:JDW) – Strong recent performance may come under pressure as earnings growth is forecast to slow.
UK Announcements:
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Trading updates: Hochschild Mining, JD Wetherspoon, PensionBee Group
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Interims: Breedon Group, Informa
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Finals: Van Elle
US Earnings (Premarket): AT&T, GE Vernova, Boston Scientific, Northrop Grumman
US Earnings (After Close): Alphabet (Google), Tesla, IBM, T-Mobile
Economic data (US):
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MBA Mortgage Applications
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Existing Home Sales
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Crude Oil Inventories
Thursday 24 July
UK Highlights:
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Key report: Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) – Focus on provisions tied to motor finance scandal; analysts expect around £800m more in 2025.
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BT and Vodafone also report, alongside Centrica, which is reportedly set to take a 15% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project.
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ITV’s results will be watched after a warning of steep advertising declines in Q2.
UK Announcements:
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Trading updates: AJ Bell, Anglo American, BT Group, CVS Group, Vodafone Group, Wizz Air
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Interims: Centrica, Howden Joinery Group, Lloyds, Primary Health Properties, Reach, Reckitt Benckiser, RELX
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Finals: IG Group, ITV, Metir, Severfield
US Earnings (Premarket): Honeywell International, Blackstone, Keurig Dr Pepper
US Earnings (After Close): Intel, Newmont
Economic data:
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Germany: GfK Consumer Confidence
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US: Jobless Claims, PMI Services, New Home Sales
Friday 25 July
UK Highlights:
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Key report: NatWest Group (LSE:NWG) – Set to round off the week with interim results. Analysts expect strong underlying performance but a dip in pre-impairment profits.
UK Announcements:
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Trading updates: Airtel Africa, Taylor Maritime
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Interims: Jupiter Fund Management, NatWest, Rightmove
US Earnings (Premarket): Aon
Economic data:
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UK: GfK Consumer Confidence, Retail Sales
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Germany: IFO Business Climate
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EU: M3 Money Supply
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US: Durable Goods Orders
