The FTSE 100 has risen 0.2% on Thursday as a series of earnings updates drove sharp moves across the index.
Germany’s DAX gained 0.1%, while France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.7%. The mid-cap FTSE 250 has also strengthened, rising 0.5%.
The day’s standout performer so far is Howden Joinery, which is up 6.9% after reporting a 5.1% increase in pre-tax profits to £344.9 million.
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Chief executive Andrew Livingston said: “For 2026, our planning assumption is that the UK kitchen market will be level year on year, following several years of decline, in what remains a competitive marketplace.”
Rolls-Royce Holdings was the second-largest riser, advancing around 6% after lifting its mid-term guidance and announcing a multi-year share buyback programme.
Investors also welcomed a strong update from London Stock Exchange Group, which gained around 6% following annual results that included plans for £3 billion of buybacks over the next year.
On the downside, Hikma Pharmaceuticals slumped 15.3%, making it the day’s worst performer. The drop pushed the shares to a four-year low after the company forecast revenue growth of 2% to 4% in 2026, down from 7% in 2025.
Among other fallers, precious-metals miner Fresnillo declined 3.1%, while copper miner Antofagasta slipped 2.9%.
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