London stocks closed mostly higher on Thursday, as reassurance from US President Donald Trump helped ease market nerves. Trump stated he had no current plans to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, providing relief after recent speculation unsettled investors.
The FTSE 100 rose 0.5% to 8,972.64, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.8% to 21,766.43. The AIM All-Share edged 0.4% lower. European markets mirrored the upbeat tone, with Paris’ CAC 40 closing 1.2% higher and Frankfurt’s DAX climbing 1.4%. US indices were also firmly higher, with Nasdaq futures hitting record highs.
Wise shares slumped 10% despite reporting a solid quarterly update. Underlying income rose 11% to £362 million in the three months to June, cross-border volumes jumped 24%, and active customers increased 17% to 9.8 million. Yet, ongoing worries about its move to New York and margin pressures sent shares tumbling.
Diploma jumped 6.4% after raising its full-year guidance. The FTSE 100 technical products supplier now expects 10% organic revenue growth, up from 8%, alongside strong acquisition activity in Denmark and the UK.
Premier Foods fell 3% after reporting flat overall sales. While sweet treats performed well, sales of grocery staples dipped due to unusually hot UK weather.
AIM-listed Empyrean Energy soared over 400% after the operator of the Mako gas field signed a major sales deal with Indonesian state utility PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia, covering sales of up to 111 billion British thermal units per day.
Ixico climbed 13% after the medical research company said full-year revenue would come in ahead of expectations at a minimum of £6.3 million, with momentum expected to continue into 2026.