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| Yesterday’s UK 100 Leaders | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Airtel Africa | 378.4 | 5.4% |
| Standard Chartered | 1,603.5 | 3.5% |
| 3i Group | 3,020.0 | 2.9% |
| BT Group | 220.0 | 2.5% |
| Entain | 546.2 | 2.4% |
| Yesterday’s UK 100 Laggards | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Imperial Brands Group | 3,215.0 | -1.2% |
| Halma | 3,794.0 | -1.2% |
| Compass Group | 2,267.0 | -1.1% |
| Reckitt Benckiser Group | 5,430.0 | -1.0% |
| JD Sports Fashion | 71.0 | -0.8% |
| Major World Indices | Price | % Chg | 1 Year |
| UK 100 INDEX | 10,404 | 0.8% | 19.9% |
| DOW JONES INDUS. AVG | 46,993 | 0.1% | 12.3% |
| DAX INDEX | 23,731 | 0.7% | 2.5% |
| NIKKEI 225 | 53,700 | 0.1% | 41.9% |
| S&P/ASX 200 INDEX | 8,614 | 0.4% | 9.6% |
| Commodity | Units | Price | % Chg |
| WTI Crude Oil (Nymex) | USD/bbl. | 96.21 | 2.90% |
| Brent Crude (ICE) | USD/bbl. | 103.50 | 3.28% |
| Gold Spot | USD/t oz. | 5,006 | 0.0% |
| Copper (Comex) | USd/lb. | 577 | 1.1% |
Click graph to enlarge
The UK 100 is called to open +8 points at at 10,411. The UK 100 looks set to rise marginally at the open today having risen around 0.6% on Tuesday, supported by strength in energy majors and financials as oil prices surged on Middle East tensions. BP and Shell each gained more than 1%, while banks and utilities also contributed to the advance. The UK 250 edged up around 0.1%. Among individual movers, Trustpilot surged 23% after reporting a sharp increase in annual profit, while Close Brothers fell more than 10% after announcing plans to cut around 600 roles by fiscal 2027
Global equities moved higher for a second session as investors positioned ahead of the Federal Reserve decision. The S&P closed up 0.25% at 6,716.13, the Nasdaq gained 0.47% to 22,479.53 and the Dow Jones rose 0.10% to 46,993.81. Energy stocks led gains, while consumer discretionary and travel names advanced after airlines signalled strong spring demand.
European equities also finished stronger, with the STOXX 600 rising 0.67% supported by energy and utilities. The broader MSCI All Country World Index advanced 0.4%, extending a three-day rally as investors attempted to look through geopolitical risks.
Asian markets followed the positive lead. South Korea’s KOSPI surged around 4–5%, driven by strong gains in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix following positive AI-related developments at Nvidia’s GTC event. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed roughly 2.5–2.8%, while the TOPIX also gained more than 2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose modestly while mainland Chinese equities underperformed slightly.
Prudential reported that new business profit rose, thanks to growth in Hong Kong and China markets, as the insurer said it will buy back an additional US$1.2 billion in its own stock. New business profit climbed 13% to US$2.78 billion on an actual exchange rate basis in the 12 months to Dec 31, according to a statement on Wednesday. That compared with the US$2.76 billion average estimate by three analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The growth rate would have been 12% on a constant exchange rate basis, excluding interest rate and other economic movements. Prudential plan to double new business profit to as much as US$5.4 billion by 2027 from the level in 2022. The insurer has ramped up expansions in other markets facing challenges including China and Hong Kong. The company expects to return more than US$7 billion to shareholders via dividends from 2024 to 2027.
UK
Genel Energy (GENL) – Full Year Results
Softcat (SCT) – Half Year Results
Moonpig Group (MOON) – Trading Update
Prudential (PRU) – Full Year Results
US
Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) AMC
UK
Energean (ENOG) – Full Year Results
US
Accenture (NYSE:ACN) PMO
FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) AMC
EU Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices
US Producer Price Index
US Factory Orders
Fed Interest Rate Decision
Fed Monetary Policy Statement
FOMC Economic Projections
US Interest Rate Projections – 2nd year
US Interest Rate Projections – Current
US Interest Rate Projections – Longer
FOMC Press Conference
UK 100 companies going ex-dividend on 19th March 2026:
NatWest Group
Standard Chartered
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Pearson
Melrose Industries
Beazley
M&G
UK 250 companies going ex-dividend on 19th March 2026:
Goodwin
Chemring Group
Aberdeen Group
Lancashire Holdings
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