London open: Stocks steady as FTSE 100 breaches 9,000 mark
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Tuesday 15 Jul 2025
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were steady in early trade on Tuesday, with the top-flight index breaching the 9,000 mark for the first time as investors shrugged off trade war concerns and welcomed better-than-expected Chinese GDP data.
At 0855 BST, the FTSE 100 was flat at 8,998.45, having hit an intraday high of 9,016.98.
Data released earlier by China's National Bureau of Statistics showed the economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter despite pressure from US tariffs.
GDP expanded by 5.2% in the three months to June, beating estimates of 5.1%, but slower than the first quarter's 5.4%.
On home shores, industry figures showed that retail sales jumped in June, fuelled by demand for summer foods and electric fans as shoppers tried to beat the heat.
According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, UK total retail sales rose 3.1% year-on-year last month, compared to June 2024's 0.2% slip.
Within that, food sales jumped 4.1%, while non-food sales - which fell 1.9% a year earlier - rose 2.2%.
The BRC said sales of electric fans and of sports and leisure equipment did especially well, boosted by the hot weather and start of key summer sporting events such as Wimbledon.
The hike in food sales was partially attributed to the recent rise in grocery inflation, which has been rising steadily through 2025.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well. The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans.
"Food sales remained strong, though this was in part driven by food inflation."
Looking forward and she sounded a note of caution, however: "The outlook is not all bright and sunny. Retailers are watching [the] government closely for details of the upcoming business rates reform. If it includes shops within the new higher rates threshold, many retailers will be forced to rethink investment plans."
Looking ahead to the rest of the day, attention will turn to the US consumer price index for June at 1230 BST. Also across the pond, banks are due to kick off earnings season.
Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets, said: "Stocks are looking through the tariff news and now the big test awaits with earnings season kicking off properly today with JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo due to report Q2 numbers. Trading volatility should help but do they ever really get credit for those earnings with a re-rating?"
In equity markets, Experian jumped to the top of the FTSE 100 as it posted a 12% increase in first-quarter revenue, with 10% growth in North America, which accounts for 67% of group revenue.
IntegraFin surged as the Transact owner hailed a strong third quarter, with net inflows surpassing £1.2bn for the second consecutive quarter and up 84% on the same period a year earlier.
Trustpilot also rallied as it upgraded full-year margin guidance following a solid first-half performance, while animal genetics firm Genus was a high riser after a full-year trading update.
Currys gained as Citi reiterated its 'buy' rating on the shares, saying that iD Mobile and buybacks are set to provide material upside.
On the downside, Barratt Redrow tumbled as the housebuilder warned that both profits and completions would be lower this year.
Updating on trading for the year to 29 June, the company said it had been a "solid performance", despite a "challenging" market backdrop.
However, looking to the current year, and the firm warned that homebuyer confidence remained "fragile", with total home completions likely to be down year-on-year, in the range of 17,200 to 17,800. It also said profits would take a £98m hit, due to new safety charges.
Peers fell sharply, with Persimmon, Berkeley Group, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway and Vistry all lower.
Discount retailer B&M European Value Retail also suffered heavy losses as its first-quarter results missed expectations.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,998.45 0.00%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,752.25 0.13%
techMARK (TASX) 5,197.95 0.30%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Experian (EXPN) 4,008.00p 4.02%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,164.00p 2.20%
WPP (WPP) 421.30p 1.62%
Flutter Entertainment (DI) (FLTR) 21,950.00p 1.43%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,836.00p 1.11%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 532.40p 1.10%
Spirax Group (SPX) 6,085.00p 1.08%
easyJet (EZJ) 529.00p 1.03%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,317.50p 0.96%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) 2,008.00p 0.96%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Barratt Redrow (BTRW) 376.50p -9.60%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 250.60p -3.24%
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,495.00p -3.05%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,183.00p -2.83%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,580.00p -2.19%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 109.15p -2.15%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,098.00p -1.88%
Rightmove (RMV) 781.20p -1.24%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 85.28p -0.98%
Kingfisher (KGF) 277.90p -0.93%
FTSE 250 - Risers
IntegraFin Holding (IHP) 375.00p 15.56%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 280.40p 11.01%
Genus (GNS) 2,305.00p 3.13%
Spirent Communications (SPT) 200.00p 2.56%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 238.00p 2.28%
VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd. (VOF) 455.00p 1.90%
Foresight Solar Fund Limited (FSFL) 90.20p 1.81%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,040.00p 1.75%
Ninety One (N91) 192.30p 1.53%
Foresight Group Holdings Limited NPV (FSG) 459.00p 1.44%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 228.90p -11.18%
Senior (SNR) 177.20p -4.73%
Kier Group (KIE) 201.00p -2.90%
Bellway (BWY) 2,522.00p -2.63%
Ibstock (IBST) 150.20p -1.31%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 186.10p -1.22%
Endeavour Mining (EDV) 2,278.00p -1.21%
C&C Group (CDI) (CCR) 167.20p -1.18%
Grafton Group Ut (CDI) (GFTU) 915.00p -1.08%
Marshalls (MSLH) 253.50p -0.98%
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