FTSE 100 flat as heavyweights trading ex-div offset gains from GDP data

Reuters

FTSE 100 flat as heavyweights trading ex-div offset gains from GDP data

15 ago. 2024, ore 7:33 GMT

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FTSE 100 flat, FTSE 250 off 0.2%

Aug 15 (Reuters) -The UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 was flat on Thursday as gains from an in-line UK GDP data, showing a still-healthy economy, were offset by losses in companies that traded without entitlement to their latest dividend payouts.

The bluechip FTSE 100 .FTSE was flat as of 0711 GMT after logging four sessions of gains, while the midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC was down 0.2%.

Britain's economy grew 0.6% in the second quarter of 2024, in line with economists' expectations and building on a rapid 0.7% recovery in the first quarter of the year after a shallow recession in the second half of 2023.

"It's worth noting that June's GDP figure was completely flat, which might initially raise concerns. However, this could actually provide the Bank of England with further justification to consider cutting interest rates next month," said Sam North, market analyst at investment platform eToro.

The pound GBP= was higher against the U.S. dollar and money markets still see a 40% chance of BoE cutting rates by 25 basis points in September. 0#BOEWATCH

Overall, the investor sentiment remained sanguine partly after the benign U.S. consumer inflation data overnight reinforced bets for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates next month.

Among sectors, industrial metal miners .FTNMX551020 slid 1.1%, on track for its third session of declines, as Rio Tinto RIO.L and Anglo American AAL.L traded ex-dividend.

Admiral Group ADML.L jumped 11.6% after the motor and home insurer posted a forecast-beating 32% rise in pre-tax profit for the first half of the year, and said it would pay a special dividend.

Index heavyweight AstraZeneca AZN.L was up 0.8% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its blockbuster cancer drug Imfinzi a priority review for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer in the United States.

HSBC HSBA.L, Barclays BARC.L, and Entain ENT.L were among the bottom performers as these companies also traded without entitlement to their latest dividend payouts.

Reporting by Shubham Batra in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen Soreng

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