Investing.com -- British stocks rose on Tuesday amid a busy earnings day in the U.K., with Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD), Greggs and Smiths Group (OTC:SMGZY) among the top companies reporting.
The blue-chip index FTSE 100 rose 1% and the British pound is up 0.05% against the dollar to above 1.3365.
The pound had climbed above $1.34 the previous day, driven by a weaker dollar following Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.
Meanwhile, DAX index in Germany rose 0.5%, the CAC 40 in France gained 0.8%.
BoE’s Pill cautions against rapid rate cuts amid inflation risks
Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill voiced concerns on Tuesday over the swift pace of interest rate reductions introduced each quarter since mid-2024.
Speaking at a Barclays (LON:BARC) event in London, Pill noted that the speed of these cuts may be premature considering the present inflation environment.
Vodafone forecasts flat earnings for FY26, announces €2 bln share buyback
Vodafone Group PLC (LON:VOD) projected stable earnings for the ongoing fiscal year, as it works to improve performance in its German operations.
The U.K.-based telecom firm anticipates adjusted EBITDAaL to range between €11 billion and €11.3 billion, with adjusted free cash flow expected between €2.6 billion and €2.8 billion for fiscal 2026.
The company also announced the launch of a €2 billion share repurchase initiative.
Greggs shares surge as sales rise in early 2025
Shares of British bakery chain Greggs PLC (LON:GRG) jumped by more than 9% after the company posted a solid rise in sales for the first 20 weeks of 2025, with momentum picking up in the last 11 weeks thanks to improved trading conditions.
Total (EPA:TTEF) revenue grew 7.4% year-over-year to £784 million, while like-for-like sales increased by 2.9%.
Smiths eyes top-end revenue growth; reaffirms margin outlook
Smiths Group PLC (LON:SMIN) said Tuesday it anticipates its full-year organic revenue growth will reach the higher end of its 6–8% forecast, following a robust third-quarter performance. Organic sales rose 10.6% in the third quarter, lifting year-to-date growth to 9.6%.
The company also reaffirmed its outlook for a full-year operating margin increase of 40 to 60 basis points.
Shares rose over 4% on Tuesday.
LondonMetric earnings soar on logistics push, acquisitions boost rental income
Londonmetric Property Plc (LON:LMPL) reported a robust rise in full-year earnings, reflecting the effectiveness of its triple net lease model, strategic capital deployment, and growing emphasis on the logistics sector.
For the fiscal year ending 31 March 2025, net rental income surged 123% to £390.6 million, largely due to the full-year contributions from its acquisitions of LXi REIT (LON:LXIL) and CT Property Trust.
Diploma shares rise on earnings beat
Diploma PLC (LON:DPLM) reported stronger-than-expected first-half earnings on Tuesday, fueled largely by its acquisition of Peerless Aerospace Fasteners, which sent shares soaring more than 15%.
The company posted EBITA of £156.9 million for the period, surpassing the consensus estimate of £150.5 million. Peerless was the key driver behind the £31.5 million year-over-year increase, contributing £30 million.
SSP Group rises on strong H1 profit boost
Shares of SSP Group PLC (LON:SSPG), known for brands like Upper Crust, climbed more than 5% after the company delivered robust results for the first half of its fiscal year, with strong revenue performance across core markets driving profit gains.
For the six months ending March, SSP reported a 20% increase in operating profit to £45 million, supported by a 9% rise in total revenue to £1.7 billion.
The growth helped balance elevated operating expenses, which totaled £1.6 billion.
Cranswick shares jump on strong FY25 results, beat profit estimates
Cranswick PLC (LON:CWK) shares climbed 3.8% after the food producer reported strong full-year results for fiscal 2025, including a 6% rise in like-for-like revenue.
Adjusted profit before tax for the year came in at £198 million, beating both the company’s forecast of £189–£195 million and analyst estimates compiled by Visible Alpha by approximately 3%.