U.K. stocks closed lower on Thursday, with sector losses in Mining, Aerospace & Defense and Industrial Metals & Mining driving the market down. At the London close the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 dropped 1.39%.
Market winners were concentrated among select names. Rentokil Initial PLC (LON:RTO) led advances, rising 10.74% or 45.70 points to finish at 471.20. Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) added 7.62% or 218.00 points to end at 3,078.00, while WPP PLC (LON:WPP) climbed 6.59% or 16.80 points to 271.90 at the close.
On the downside, 3I Group PLC (LON:III) fell 8.10% or 258.00 points to trade at 2,929.00, recording a move to 52-week lows. Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES) slipped 7.27% or 280.00 points to finish at 3,572.00, and Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (LON:RKT) declined 5.79% or 350.00 points to 5,700.00.
Breadth on the London Stock Exchange skewed negative, with declining issues outnumbering advancers by 1,037 to 734, and 531 stocks ending the session unchanged.
Commodities showed mixed moves. Gold Futures for April delivery were down 0.83% or 42.46 to $5,092.24 a troy ounce. In energy markets Crude oil for April delivery rose 6.63% or 4.95 to $79.61 a barrel, while the May Brent contract increased 3.97% or 3.23 to trade at $84.63 a barrel.
In currency markets, GBP/USD was down 0.43% to 1.33, while EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged, quoted at 0.87 with a 0.06% move. The US Dollar Index Futures gained 0.54%, trading at 99.26.
Summary of notable moves:
- Index: Investing.com United Kingdom 100 -1.39% at close.
- Top gainers: Rentokil Initial PLC (LON:RTO) +10.74% to 471.20; Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) +7.62% to 3,078.00; WPP PLC (LON:WPP) +6.59% to 271.90.
- Top decliners: 3I Group PLC (LON:III) -8.10% to 2,929.00 (52-week low); Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES) -7.27% to 3,572.00; Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (LON:RKT) -5.79% to 5,700.00.
- Market breadth: 1,037 down, 734 up, 531 unchanged.
- Commodities and FX: Gold down to $5,092.24/oz; Brent $84.63/bbl; Crude $79.61/bbl; GBP/USD 1.33; EUR/GBP 0.87; US Dollar Index Futures 99.26.
No additional commentary or attribution is provided beyond the numerical moves and sector performance reported above.