S&P 500 slips, but losses kept in check as Nvidia climbs ahead of results
Investing.com -- British stocks gained on Tuesday, extending the previous day’s gains, while the pound also rose.
The blue-chip index FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% and the British pound rose 0.2% against the dollar to 1.33.
DAX index in Germany rose 0.4% %, the CAC 40 in France fell 0.1%.
FTSE 100 movers: BP outshines expectations, Smith & Nephew and Diageo rise; Domino’s guidance cuts hurt
BP PLC (NYSE:BP) (LON:BP) reported second-quarter profit that exceeded analyst expectations, with underlying replacement cost profit rising to $2.4 billion from $1.4 billion in the first quarter.
While the figure marked a decline from $2.76 billion in the year-ago quarter, it significantly topped analyst estimates of $1.81 billion, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus. The improved performance was supported by gains across all business segments.
In other corporate news, Smith & Nephew PLC (LON:SN) shares surged 15% after reporting an 11.2% rise in first-half trading profit to $523 million, exceeding analyst expectations of $496 million.
The medical products maker’s trading profit margin improved to 17.7% from 16.7% a year earlier, with revenue rising to $2.96 billion from $2.82 billion, supported by cost reductions and a rebound in U.S. operations.
Diageo PLC (LON:DGE) shares climbed almost 5% after reporting annual organic sales growth that beat market expectations.
For the fiscal year ended June, net sales reached $20.25 billion, down 0.1% on a reported basis but up 1.7% organically, ahead of consensus estimates of 1.4% organic growth. Earnings per share came in at 164.2 cents, exceeding the expected 161.6 cents.
Travis Perkins PLC (LON:TPK) reported a 24% decline in first-half adjusted operating profit as weakness in the U.K. construction sector continued to affect performance, though like-for-like trends improved in the second quarter.
The slowdown has been driven by high interest rates and weak consumer sentiment.
Rotork PLC (LON:ROR) shares rose 6.6% after posting better-than-expected first-half results, with EBITA of £80.8 million surpassing the consensus estimate of £80 million.
Group EBITA margin increased 140 basis points year-on-year to 22%.
Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES) shares jumped 6% after reporting a nearly fourfold increase in first-half net profit to $467.6 million from $117.7 million a year earlier.
Revenue climbed 30.1% to $1.94 billion, aided by higher gold and silver prices.
Domino’s Pizza (NASDAQ:DPZ) Group (LON:DOM) shares plunged more than 17% after cutting its full-year earnings guidance and reporting flat order volumes for the first half.
The company now expects underlying EBITDA for fiscal year 2025 to be between £130 million and £140 million, about 8% below consensus estimates.
Serica Energy (LON:SQZ) gained 5.6% after reaffirming plans to restore output above 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, despite posting a first-half net loss of $43 million due to a higher-than-expected tax charge.
SIG (LON:SHI) reported first-half 2025 operating profit of £15.4 million, in line with its early-July guidance of "circa £15 million."
The building materials distributor’s U.K. Interiors business returned to profitability earlier than expected.
XP (NASDAQ:XP) Power (LON:XPP) reported first-half 2025 EBITA of £4.8 million, 42% below analyst expectations, with results significantly impacted by a £2.3 million foreign exchange headwind.
Revenue reached £111 million, representing an 11% year-over-year decline in constant currency.
Genel Energy (LON:GENL) reported a net profit of $1 million for the first half of 2025, beating expectations of a $12 million loss, primarily due to a $9 million partial reversal of an arbitration cost award.
Spectris (LON:SXS) stock rose 0.7% after KKR increased its cash offer to acquire the company to £41.75 per share, comprising £41.47 in cash and an interim dividend of 28 pence per share.
Capita PLC (LON:CPI) shares fell 2.3% after the outsourcing firm maintained its full-year outlook despite challenges in its contact center operations. First-half adjusted revenue was £1,154.8 million, down 4% year-on-year.
Synthomer (LON:SYNTS) shares plummeted 20% after reporting first-half results below analyst expectations, with sales of £925 million falling short of consensus estimates of £1,012 million amid increased end-market volatility.
GlobalData (LON:DATA) reported a 12% increase in first-half revenue to £156.5 million, with underlying growth of 1%, while operating profit declined 25% to £28.5 million due to acquisition and integration expenses.
Keller Group (LON:KLR) reported first-half results ahead of market expectations despite revenue declining 2% to £1.46 billion compared to the same period last year. In constant currency terms, revenue grew 1% year-on-year.