FTSE 100 Live: Centrica and BT disappoint, but Segro, RELX, 3i and oil rise
FTSE 100 was down 10 points to 10,707 as Brent crude rose 4.2% to $98 a barrel. Centrica reported 18% lower first-half earnings, and BT posted a 4% fall in first-quarter profit. RELX rose after interim results with 11% earnings growth and a 7% dividend hike; easyJet saw a 70% third-quarter profit drop.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
Traders can act on several discrete catalysts: easyJet’s large profit drop, RELX’s interim earnings and dividend growth, Segro’s Prologis offer recommendation stance, and Anglo American’s copper cost guidance cut. Macro oil and yield pressure can amplify or mute these single-name moves.
Market read
Multiple UK-listed names have fresh earnings, dividend, and deal-related catalysts, while Brent and yields provide a strong macro overlay for intraday risk pricing.
What to watch
The article’s macro backdrop (oil-driven inflation and rising gilt yields) can dominate stock-specific fundamentals intraday, so technical levels and rate moves may matter as much as the reported numbers.
Background
This is a morning FTSE 100 live-style wrap combining macro drivers (Brent up, yields higher, central bank calendar) with multiple company-specific updates and early price reactions.
Ticker impact
Centrica hiked its interim dividend 9% but reported first-half EBITDA down 18%, with energy volatility slowing progress.
Choppy to slightly negative near term, with traders weighing dividend resilience versus weaker earnings.
The article provides directionally bearish earnings (EBITDA -18%) alongside a modestly positive dividend action (+9%), implying mixed market reaction.
RELX rose on interim results showing 11% earnings growth and a 7% hike in the interim dividend.
Upward bias likely to persist as investors extrapolate earnings and dividend durability.
The article cites specific growth rates for earnings and dividend, which typically drive positive repricing.
Anglo American rose 5% after slashing copper cost forecasts to about 145 cents from roughly 172 cents previously.
Supportive bias likely, especially if markets believe margin expansion is achievable post-repositioning.
The article provides a clear, quantified cost reduction and frames it as part of a copper pure-play repositioning.
Market effects
Oil strength and supply-fear headlines can pressure fuel-cost-sensitive transport names while supporting energy-linked equities; rate/yield pressure can also affect defensives and REITs.
FTSE is outperforming other European benchmarks in the morning, suggesting UK-specific earnings and deal headlines are outweighing broader Europe weakness.
Brent at $98 and geopolitical supply fears can spill into global energy, inflation expectations, and cross-asset rate pricing, influencing European equities broadly.
Counterpoint
easyJet and parts of the UK market may be overreacting to near-term fuel and booking noise; if guidance stabilizes, the selloff could be partially reversible.
Key entities
- companyCentrica
British Gas owner reporting lower first-half EBITDA and a higher interim dividend.
- companyBT Group
Telecoms group reporting lower first-quarter profit while maintaining full-year guidance.
- companyeasyJet
Budget airline reporting a sharp third-quarter profit decline tied to fuel costs and weaker bookings.
- company3i Group
Private equity investment trust reporting Q1 total return and portfolio performance via Action.
- companyRELX
Publishing and analytics group reporting interim earnings growth and a higher interim dividend.
