U.K. equities ended the trading day in negative territory on Thursday, with sector losses in Mining, Life Insurance/Assurance and Banking exerting downward pressure on the broader market. At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 registered a decline of 0.60%.
The session produced a split in individual stock performance. Leading the winners was Schroders PLC (LON:SDR), which jumped 28.56% - an increase of 130.50 points - to finish at 587.50, taking the stock to three-year highs. DCC plc (LON:DCC) and Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) also posted gains, with DCC up 3.80% or 190.00 points to 5,190.00 and Admiral rising 3.44% or 94.00 points to close at 2,824.00.
On the downside, Rentokil Initial PLC (LON:RTO) led the laggards, slipping 6.88% or 32.50 points to end at 439.80. Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) declined 6.80% or 79.00 points to finish at 1,082.50, while Standard Chartered PLC (LON:STAN) fell 4.66% or 84.50 points to trade at 1,730.00 at the close.
Market breadth on the London Stock Exchange leaned toward falls, with 972 stocks down versus 783 advancing, and 557 ending unchanged.
Commodities markets moved lower during the session. Gold Futures for April delivery were down 2.38% or 121.59, trading at $4,976.91 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery fell 2.89% or 1.87 to $62.76 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract dropped 2.78% or 1.93 to $67.47 a barrel.
In currency trading, GBP/USD was unchanged at 1.36 (0.00%), and EUR/GBP was effectively flat, up 0.02% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.13% to 96.85.
Market takeaway - The U.K. market closed lower overall, with distinct outperformance from a few financial and distribution names amid broader weakness across mining, life insurance and banking stocks. Breadth favored decliners, and commodity and energy prices moved down during the session.
Notable stock moves:
- Schroders PLC (LON:SDR): +28.56% (130.50 pts) to 587.50 - moved to a three-year high.
- DCC plc (LON:DCC): +3.80% (190.00 pts) to 5,190.00.
- Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML): +3.44% (94.00 pts) to 2,824.00.
- Rentokil Initial PLC (LON:RTO): -6.88% (-32.50 pts) to 439.80.
- Prudential PLC (LON:PRU): -6.80% (-79.00 pts) to 1,082.50.
- Standard Chartered PLC (LON:STAN): -4.66% (-84.50 pts) to 1,730.00.
Trading breadth and macro instruments - Decliners outnumbered advancers by 972 to 783 on the LSE, with 557 unchanged. Gold, crude oil and Brent futures all moved lower, while major FX pairs were effectively flat and the US Dollar Index Futures ticked up.