FTSE 100 movers: JD Sports rallies on results; AB Foods, Kingfisher fall again

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 9,257.08 in afternoon trade on Wednesday. Sports fashion retailer JD Sports rallied after saying that FY26 pre-tax profits were set to meet current market expectations despite a drop in group sales in the six months ended 2 August. The company also announced a new £100m share buyback.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "A small improvement in North America and Asia Pacific like-for-like sales on a quarterly basis suggests JD Sports is still match-fit. However, deterioration in the UK and Europe means its performance is still considerably short of the athletic prowess portrayed in its product marketing.

"The figures are good enough to lift JD out of the danger zone, helped by saying full-year profit will hit market forecasts. Certain investors might have been expecting the worst so a 'steady-as-she-goes' update is considered a win.

"Crucial to JD's share price performance going forward is the company's ability to navigate the new tariff regime given the US is now one of its biggest sales regions. There is also the fact JD has adopted a cautious tone, noting that consumers are being picky with how and where they spend money. It's clear that JD is walking a tightrope and it wouldn't take much to knock it off course."

Primark owner AB Foods and B&Q owner Kingfisher were under the cosh again, having slumped on Tuesday after rating downgrades at Deutsche Bank.

FTSE 100 - Risers

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 96.86p 3.02% Flutter Entertainment (DI) (FLTR) 22,390.00p 2.05% Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (PSH) 4,338.00p 1.54% Airtel Africa (AAF) 219.80p 1.48% Vodafone Group (VOD) 89.32p 1.25% National Grid (NG.) 1,059.00p 1.15% Severn Trent (SVT) 2,617.00p 1.04% InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 8,942.00p 0.93% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,836.00p 0.88% CRH (CDI) (CRH) 8,502.00p 0.85%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 545.80p -2.29% Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 301.40p -1.44% Bunzl (BNZL) 2,474.00p -1.28% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,194.00p -1.26% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 352.70p -1.26% Halma (HLMA) 3,276.00p -1.09% Rentokil Initial (RTO) 353.60p -1.04% Barclays (BARC) 369.95p -1.03% Kingfisher (KGF) 266.40p -0.97% Centrica (CNA) 163.30p -0.91%