Tuesday Morning Markets: Victrex and Keller Group Shine, While Capita Craters

The FTSE 100 is trading firmer on Tuesday, up 0.6%, while the FTSE 250 has slipped 0.1% in a session influenced by stock-specific moves rather than broad market direction. 

On the continent, the DAX and Stoxx 50 have each eased 0.1%, while the CAC 40 has so far posted a 0.8% gain.

The morning’s biggest FTSE 100 mover was Capita, which has crashed more than 15% to around 273.5p after Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds told Parliament the outsourcer was “completely unprepared” to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with systems overwhelmed. 

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Meanwhile, Shell has offset some of the gloom, rising 2.92% ahead of its July 30 results after flagging refining margins jumped to roughly $20/bbl.

Miners have dragged on the index as gold and silver have slipped for the second day in a row, even as Brent crude rose roughly 1%.

Fresnillo has fallen 2.17%, with Anglo American down 1.85%, Antofagasta dropping 1.77% and Rio Tinto declining 1.66%. 

Outside of the miners, Polar Capital Technology Trust has decreased 3.21%.

The real fireworks were in the FTSE 250, where Keller Group has surged 18.27% to a new record high after upgrading its FY2026 outlook on strong North American trading…

The company said it now anticipates revenue and underlying operating profit for the full year 2026 will be “materially ahead of current market consensus.”

The current company consensus for the year-end 31 Dec 2026 is revenue of £3.15 billion and underlying operating profit of £223m.

In addition, Victrex has jumped 18.04% on a bullish Q3 trading update, marking a reversal from earlier soft volumes. 

On the downside, ITV slid 5.75%, while Raspberry Pi Holdings fell 4.06%.

On the economic calendar, traders will be looking ahead to the release of the FOMC minutes tomorrow.