FTSE 100 movers: Rolls-Royce surges; WPP tumbles on results

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 8,753.79 in afternoon trade on Thursday. Rolls-Royce surged to the top of index as it lifted mid-term guidance and unveiled a £1bn share buyback as annual profits jumped, driven by its civil aerospace unit. It also announced its first dividend since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Insurer Hiscox also gained after it reported record full-year profits as it hailed "strong returns" from each business segment and announced a $175m share buyback.

London Stock Exchange and Aviva both gained on the back of better-than-expected results.

WPP tumbled as the advertising giant reported a drop in full-year revenues and said like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs for 2025 was expected to be flat to 2% lower.

St James's Place lost ground despite saying it swung to a full-year profit, while consumer healthcare firm Haleon was down even as it reiterated its full-year outlook after posting improved full-year sales and profits.

Taylor Wimpey was weaker after it posted a fall in annual revenues and profits but said it had seen a "robust" start to the new year as demand picked up.

The blue chip housebuilder completed 10,593 homes in 2024, down on the previous year's 10,848, while the average selling price fell to £356,000 from £370,000.

As a result, revenues eased 3.2% to £3.4bn, while operating profits fell 11.5% to £416.2m. Pre-tax profits were down 32.4% at £320.3m.

Barclays and Diageo fell as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 743.20p 17.78% Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,190.00p 6.34% London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 11,715.00p 5.54% Aviva (AV.) 541.00p 3.09% BAE Systems (BA.) 1,383.50p 2.86% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 334.90p 2.35% BT Group (BT.A) 156.80p 1.32% Melrose Industries (MRO) 626.20p 0.77% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,170.00p 0.74% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 355.50p 0.74%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

WPP (WPP) 647.40p -15.94% St James's Place (STJ) 1,079.00p -4.60% Haleon (HLN) 380.30p -3.84% Barclays (BARC) 298.95p -3.24% Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,594.00p -2.92% Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 111.30p -2.88% Mondi (MNDI) 1,212.00p -2.77% Persimmon (PSN) 1,143.50p -2.68% Diageo (DGE) 2,125.00p -2.66% Spirax Group (SPX) 7,290.00p -2.41%