Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 14, 2025
3 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleLondon stocks ended mixed as investors assessed earnings. FTSE 100 fell 0.2%, FTSE 250 rose 0.3%, with focus on economic outlook and corporate news.
(Reuters) -Britain's blue-chip index closed lower on Wednesday, while mid-caps clocked gains as investors assessed a mixed bag of corporate earnings, with the focus shifting to the state of the country's economy.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, while the domestically focused FTSE 250 was up 0.3%.
Despite the day's muted performance, Goldman Sachs raised its 12-month forecast for the FTSE 100 to 8,800 from 8,500, following a crucial U.S.-China trade agreement that has helped dial down global recession concerns.
Shares of Imperial Brands fell 7.3% to the bottom of the blue-chip index after the cigarette maker said CEO Stefan Bomhard will retire after five years in the role.
Compass Group's stock fell 2.5% after the catering firm released unchanged annual profit and revenue forecasts.
Shares of Spirax Group dropped nearly 6% after the manufacturing firm reported a slightly lower four-month profit margin.
Precious metal miners led the sectoral decline with a 2.5% drop, as gold prices fell more than 2% to a one-month low. [GOL/]
Keeping losses in check, Burberry's stock jumped 17% to lead mid-cap performers after the British luxury brand announced plans to shed 1,700 jobs - about a fifth of its global workforce.
ASOS shares gained 3.2% after parcel locker company InPost partnered with the British online fashion retailer to introduce a next-day out-of-home delivery service.
On the economic front, Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Catherine Mann said she voted to keep borrowing costs on hold last week because Britain's labour market had been more resilient than she expected.
Data published on Tuesday showed signs of a cooling UK labour market, but economists said the drop appeared modest.
The BoE cut its benchmark Bank Rate by a quarter of a percentage point on May 8, a decision backed by five of the MPC's nine members.
Meanwhile, Britain's finance ministry has hired Bank of America executive Jim O'Neil for a senior position as it tries to boost the country's weak economic growth, the government said.
text_section_type="notes" For related prices, Reuters users may click on - * UK stock report [.L] FTSE index: techMARK 100 index: FTSE futures: Gilt futures: Smallcap index: FTSE 250 index: FTSE 350 index: Market digest: Top 10 by vol: Top price gainers: Top % gainers: Top price losers: Top % losers: * For related news, click on - * UK hot stocks: [HOT] and [GB] Wall Street: [.N] Gilts report: [GB/] Euro bond report [GVD/EUR] Pan European stock report: [.EU] Tokyo stocks: [.T] HK stocks: [.HK] Sterling report: [GBP/] Dollar report: [USD/] * For company prices, click on - * Company directory: By sector: * For pan-European market data, click on - * European Equities speed guide................ FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... DJ STOXX index................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. Top 25 European pct gainers.................... Top 25 European pct losers.....................
(Reporting by Sanchayaita Roy, Ragini Mathur and Twesha Dikshit in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Paul Simao)
The article discusses the mixed performance of London stocks as investors assess corporate earnings and economic conditions.
The FTSE 100 index fell by 0.2% while the FTSE 250 index rose by 0.3%.
Imperial Brands' stock fell 7.3% following the announcement of CEO Stefan Bomhard's retirement.
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