London close: FTSE 100 hits another high as blue chip updates impress

(Sharecast News) - UK stocks hit another record high on Thursday, extending their recent run despite a weak start on Wall Street following Nvidia's results, as London blue chips Howden, LSEG and Rolls-Royce impressed investors.

The FTSE 100, which was rangebound for most of the session, pushed 0.4% higher by the close to settle at 10,846.70, topping Wednesday's all-time closing high of 10,806.41. That puts the index 6.9% higher over the past month and 9% ahead for 2026 so far.

"Three cheers for the UK stock market as it leaves the US in the rear-view mirror in performance terms this year," said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

"A resilient showing from the UK stock market on Thursday was even more striking when looking at the miserable turn from Wall Street. The Nasdaq got off to a bad start, weighed down by a negative reaction to Nvidia's results and growing discontent around all things AI-related. Tech stocks have had their moment in the sun and investors look ready to move onto another potential source of riches."

In other news, oil prices were rising strongly after an earlier fall on the back of geopolitical risk and an apparent lack of progress in talks between the US and Iran. Brent crude was up 1.5% at $71.77 a barrel by the close in London as concerns mount "given the potential for an extended military operation and the risks that entails", according to Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG.

Howden, LSEG and Rolls-Royce shine

Howden Joinery gained nearly 11% as the trade kitchen supplier announced a new �100m share buyback for 2026 and reported strong full-year results ahead of market forecasts.

London Stock Exchange Group rallied 9% as it unveiled plans to return �3bn to shareholders, alongside a rise in annual earnings, amid mounting pressure from activist investor Elliott Management.

Engine maker RollsRoyce gained 3% as it lifted its midterm targets and set out plans for a major share buyback, reporting a "strong" performance for 2025, underpinned by further progress in its transformation programme and continued endmarket growth.

On the downside, Hikma Pharmaceuticals tumbled 17% after the generics drugmaker withdrew its medium-term guidance and adopted a cautious outlook for the current year.

On the FTSE 250, Jupiter Fund Management jumped 6% after it announced a share buyback of up to �30m and a special dividend, as it reported better-than-expected full-year profits and the first calendar year of positive net inflows since 2017.

Animal genetics firm Genus was down 9% despite decent interim results, following recent share price strength.

Shares in grocer and technology group Ocado slid 8% after it said it would be slashing around 1,000 jobs as part of a drive to save �150m in costs after setbacks to its automated warehouse programme rollout.