U.K. stocks ended the trading day in London lower on Tuesday, with the broader market pressured by declines across the Banking, Food & Drug Retailers and General Retailers sectors. The United Kingdom 100 fell 1.48% at the close.
The top performers on the index included Intertek Group PLC (LON:ITRK), which advanced 5.95% - a rise of 286.00 points - finishing the session at 5,090.00. Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC (LON:SPX) added 3.86% or 274.00 points to close at 7,372.00. WPP PLC (LON:WPP) also ended the day higher, up 2.86% or 7.60 points to 273.20.
On the downside, Entain PLC (LON:ENT) led losses after falling 6.45% - down 36.60 points - to 531.20 at the close. HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA) declined 5.86% or 79.60 points to finish at 1,279.80, while Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LON:MKS) slipped 4.76% or 16.05 points to 321.50.
Market breadth tilted negative by the close: falling issues outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 894 to 854, and 527 stocks were unchanged.
Entain's share price drop took it to a 52-week low, with the stock falling 6.45% or 36.60 to close at 531.20.
Commodities and currencies
Gold Futures for June delivery were higher, up 0.92% or 41.91 to $4,575.21 a troy ounce. Energy contracts weakened: crude oil for June delivery fell 4.26% or 4.53 to $101.89 a barrel, and the July Brent oil contract declined 3.51% or 4.02 to trade at $110.42 a barrel.
On the currency front, GBP/USD was unchanged 0.28% to 1.36, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.17% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.03% at 98.23.
Key market data cited
- United Kingdom 100 -1.48% at close
- Intertek Group PLC (ITRK) +5.95% to 5,090.00
- Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC (SPX) +3.86% to 7,372.00
- WPP PLC (WPP) +2.86% to 273.20
- Entain PLC (ENT) -6.45% to 531.20 (52-week low)
- HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBA) -5.86% to 1,279.80
- Marks and Spencer Group PLC (MKS) -4.76% to 321.50
- Gold (June) +0.92% to $4,575.21/oz
- Crude oil (June) -4.26% to $101.89/bbl; Brent (July) -3.51% to $110.42/bbl
- US Dollar Index Futures -0.03% at 98.23
Market context and implications
Sector-level weakness in banking and retail weighed on the index, contributing to a broader decline in share prices by the close. Gains in select industrial and communications-related names limited losses for the benchmark but were not sufficient to offset the broader weakness.
Data note - Market breadth numbers and individual price moves reflect the session's end-of-day reports.