London's market ended the trading day with only a small net gain, as sector-level advances in Aerospace & Defense, Electronic & Electrical Equipment and Industrial Engineering helped lift the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 by 0.06% at the close.
Among individual stocks, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (LON:SMT) led the winners, climbing 3.27% - a rise of 46.50 points - to finish at 1,470.50. Melrose Industries PLC (LON:MRON) added 2.79%, an increase of 12.90 points, closing at 474.90. Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) also advanced, up 2.11% or 2.30 points, to end the session at 111.10.
On the downside, Entain PLC (LON:ENT) recorded the largest drop among the major names, sliding 5.48% or 32.40 points to close at 559.00. Medical device maker Smith & Nephew PLC (LON:SN) fell 4.64%, a decline of 53.00 points, to finish at 1,090.50. Airline group EasyJet PLC (LON:EZJ) slipped 4.06%, down 23.60 points, to 558.40 by the close.
Market breadth showed more advancing issues than decliners on the London Stock Exchange, with 955 stocks rising against 783 that fell. Another 552 shares finished unchanged.
Commodities were mixed. Gold futures for August delivery ticked up 0.05% - an increase of 2.22 - settling at $4,041.12 a troy ounce. In energy markets, U.S. crude for August delivery fell 1.17% or 0.83 to $69.92 a barrel, while the September Brent contract declined 0.57% or 0.42 to trade at $73.49 a barrel.
Currency moves were minor: GBP/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.01% to 1.33, and EUR/GBP changed 0.06% to 0.86. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures closed up 0.11% at 100.99.
Session snapshot
- Index: Investing.com United Kingdom 100 +0.06% at close
- Top gainers: SMT +3.27% to 1,470.50; MRON +2.79% to 474.90; LLOY +2.11% to 111.10
- Top losers: ENT -5.48% to 559.00; SN -4.64% to 1,090.50; EZJ -4.06% to 558.40
- Breadth: 955 advancers, 783 decliners, 552 unchanged
- Commodities & FX: Gold +0.05% to $4,041.12/oz; WTI crude -1.17% to $69.92/bbl; Brent -0.57% to $73.49/bbl; GBP/USD 1.33; EUR/GBP 0.86; US Dollar Index Futures 100.99
This session showed modest overall movement in equities and only limited volatility in commodity and foreign exchange markets. Market participants saw both substantial single-stock moves to the upside and downside while the headline index held essentially flat.