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The FTSE 100 opened positively on Thursday, lifted by strong gains in mid- and large-cap stocks after upbeat corporate updates and an improvement in global market sentiment. The index rose 0.6%, adding 56.96 points to reach 9,564.37, putting an end to its five-day losing streak.
Games Workshop surged 5.66% to £17,000, after the Warhammer maker projected first-half revenues of at least £310 million.
Investors responded strongly to the company’s upbeat outlook and momentum in its core gaming portfolio, pushing the stock to a new all-time high.
Halma climbed 7.31% to £12,573.85. The safety technology group raised its annual guidance, signalling stronger demand for its medical and environmental solutions. The improved outlook fueled one of Halma’s strongest intraday moves of the year.
Other gainers include Polar Capital Technology Trust, which jumped 3.34% to £463.50, supported by technology and AI-linked investments.
Melrose Industries gained 1.81% to £608.60, continuing its steady upward trend with improving sentiment.
Private equity giant 3I Group advanced 1.69% to £3,376, while Spirax Group added 1.68% to £6,950, backed by stable demand across engineering and manufacturing segments.
The latest rally surely lifts the market, but a few stocks have slipped into the red. Shares of DCC fell 0.85% to £4,788.62.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners also dropped by 0.44% to £6,800, while National Grid slipped 1.43% to £1,139.50. It reflects weakness across regulated utilities ahead of key macroeconomic data.
Other losers include Berkeley Group, down 0.27% to £3,760, Imperial Brands, lower by 0.31% to £3,229, and Compass Group, which slipped 0.29% to £2,436.
The chip giant posted $57 billion in revenue, beating expectations, and issued a bullish $65 billion outlook for the next quarter. The results moved NVIDIA shares up 5% in after-hours trading and helped lift AI-related stocks globally.
Investors remain cautious ahead of the delayed US non-farm payrolls report, a key release that could shape expectations for a potential December Federal Reserve rate cut. Economists expect around 75,000 jobs to be added.
Minutes from the Fed’s October meeting, however, hinted that “many” officials are not yet convinced about cutting rates next month.
US stocks rallied overnight, led by a 0.6% gain for the Nasdaq, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Dow Jones inched up 0.1%.
Japan's Nikkei jumped 2.65% and Korea's Kospi is up 1.9%, while Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures are pointing to increases of 1.8% and 1.3%.
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