FTSE 100 movers: JD Sports surges on broker note; Taylor Wimpey hit by downgrade

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was flat at 8,244.41 in afternoon trade on Tuesday. JD Sports was the top gainer on the index after Bank of America Merrill Lynch reinstated coverage of the stock at 'buy' with a 165p price target, citing a "compelling" valuation and upside of around 70%.

Next was a high riser as the clothing retailer lifted full-year guidance after better-than-expected December sales but warned UK growth is likely to slow, as employer tax increases, and their potential impact on prices and employment, begin to filter through into the economy.

Full-year guidance for the 12 months to January was lifted by £5m to £1.01bn after underlying full-price sales rose by 5.7% against expectations of a 3.5% increase. For 2026, Next anticipates full-price sales growth of 3.5% and profit before tax of £1.046bn, up 3.6%.

3i Group advanced after Citi opened an "upside catalyst watch" on the buy-rated shares in a note on diversified financials.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey was in the red after a downgrade to 'equalweight' at Barclays.

Rival Persimmon was also weaker, with the sector more broadly hit after data from Halifax showed that house prices dipped in December for the first time since March.

Paper and packaging group Mondi was knocked lower by a downgrade to 'neutral' at BNPP Exane.

FTSE 100 - Risers

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 102.35p 4.50% Next (NXT) 9,912.00p 3.75% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 302.00p 1.82% Entain (ENT) 702.40p 1.39% Shell (SHEL) 2,612.50p 1.36% 3i Group (III) 3,670.00p 1.33% Sage Group (SGE) 1,307.00p 1.24% Halma (HLMA) 2,735.00p 1.18% Pearson (PSON) 1,302.50p 1.13% Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 796.20p 1.12%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 116.20p -3.13% WPP (WPP) 767.20p -2.94% NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 398.50p -2.73% Barclays (BARC) 266.65p -2.25% Persimmon (PSN) 1,137.50p -2.07% Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 4,181.00p -1.90% Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 272.20p -1.80% Standard Chartered (STAN) 987.00p -1.69% Mondi (MNDI) 1,154.50p -1.62% CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,424.00p -1.49%