Tuesday’s trading session in London ended with divergent outcomes for the UK’s main indices. The blue-chip FTSE 100 closed down 0.2% at 8,274.41, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 rose 0.9% to 21,432.51.
Among individual stocks, St James’s Place was the standout performer, with its shares surging 25% following strong first-half results. In contrast, Diageo faced a challenging day, dropping 5.1% after reporting difficult full-year results. Standard Chartered bucked the trend of the wider FTSE 100, rising 5.9% on the back of a significant share buyback announcement.
Across the Atlantic, US economic data painted a mixed picture. Job openings in June exceeded expectations, while consumer confidence saw an improvement in July. These figures are particularly significant as they come just ahead of several key central bank decisions.
Investors are now turning their attention to a series of crucial central bank decisions. The Bank of Japan is set to announce its decision on Wednesday, followed by the Federal Reserve later the same day. The Bank of England will round off the trio on Thursday. These decisions are expected to provide important signals about the future direction of monetary policy in key economies.
The contrasting fortunes of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 suggest that investors are currently finding more opportunities in mid-cap stocks. However, the overall market sentiment remains cautious as participants weigh positive economic indicators against the varied corporate earnings results and potential shifts in monetary policy.
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