FTSE 100 movers: Defence firms under the cosh; easyJet flies higher

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.7% at 9,681.5 in afternoon trade on Tuesday. Defence firms Babcock, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce all slumped after US President Donald Trump said a Ukraine peace deal was "closer than ever" following talks in Berlin.

Rolls-Royce was also in focus after it announced plans for a further £200m "interim" share buyback programme. The engine maker, which already completed a £1bn share buyback in November, said the latest buyback will run from 2 January 2026 and complete no later than 24 February 2026.

Oil giants BP and Shell gushed lower as oil prices fell.

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Brent crude oil prices are precariously close to falling through the $60 barrier. A peace deal between Russia and the Ukraine looks to be back on the agenda but there have already been multiple false dawns this year.

"Even without Russian exports, concerns around Chinese demand as well as increasing production from OPEC+ members and other nations are keeping prices way below the $80 peaks seen earlier this year."

Going the other way, budget airline easyJet flew higher, likely on hopes of a Ukraine peace deal.

Primark owner AB Foods was also among the gainers, having lost ground on Monday on the back of a rating downgrade by Jefferies.

FTSE 100 - Risers

easyJet (EZJ) 509.60p 2.56% Croda International (CRDA) 2,790.00p 2.09% JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 82.70p 2.05% Convatec Group (CTEC) 233.60p 1.57% St James's Place (STJ) 1,349.00p 1.50% Whitbread (WTB) 2,435.00p 1.46% Legal & General Group (LGEN) 251.90p 1.04% Land Securities Group (LAND) 588.50p 1.03% Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 2,802.00p 0.94% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,108.00p 0.91%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,201.00p -4.61% BAE Systems (BA.) 1,646.00p -2.80% Informa (INF) 868.40p -2.54% BP (BP.) 427.60p -2.25% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,089.00p -2.24% Shell (SHEL) 2,645.50p -1.96% Airtel Africa (AAF) 313.00p -1.94% Melrose Industries (MRO) 549.60p -1.93% Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 609.40p -1.87% Relx plc (REL) 3,020.00p -1.85%