London’s FTSE 100 opened 0.3% higher on Tuesday, lifted by a flurry of earnings reports from major U.K. firms including Vodafone, Greggs, and Smiths Group. The move comes as the British pound also edged up 0.07% to trade above $1.33 against the U.S. dollar.
The uptick followed Monday’s rally, when the pound briefly exceeded $1.34 after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit outlook, weakening the dollar and increasing investor appetite for European assets.
Major continental indices mirrored London’s gains:
- Germany’s DAX rose 0.2%
- France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.1%
Investor focus remained on corporate earnings and strategic developments in the telecom, retail, and logistics sectors.
Vodafone Unveils €2B Buyback Amid Stable Outlook
Vodafone Group PLC (LON:VOD) announced it will initiate a €2 billion share buyback as it seeks to boost shareholder returns while stabilizing its European operations.
The telecom giant projected:
- Adjusted EBITDAaL for fiscal 2026: €11.0B–€11.3B
- Free cash flow: €2.6B–€2.8B
Much of Vodafone’s strategic focus is now on improving performance in Germany, its largest market. The share repurchase reflects confidence in its long-term capital structure, despite flat earnings projections.
Greggs and Smiths Deliver Growth Signals
Greggs PLC (LON:GRG) saw its stock surge 8.3% following a robust trading update. The British bakery chain reported a 7.4% year-on-year revenue increase to £784 million for the first 20 weeks of 2025. Like-for-like sales rose 2.9%, with stronger performance in the last 11 weeks due to improved foot traffic and weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Smiths Group PLC (LON:SMIN) reaffirmed its full-year margin guidance, citing strong momentum in Q3. The industrial tech firm said:
- Q3 organic sales jumped 10.6%
- Year-to-date growth: 9.6%
- Full-year revenue growth expected at top of 6–8% range
- Operating margins seen rising by 40 to 60 basis points
Shares of Smiths rose more than 1% after the opening bell.
LondonMetric Profits Soar on Logistics Focus
LondonMetric Property Plc (LON:LMPL) posted a 123% jump in net rental income to £390.6 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The surge was driven by its strategic acquisitions of LXi REIT and CT Property Trust, and a shift toward logistics-oriented assets under its triple-net lease model.
The company’s continued focus on capital efficiency and long-term lease structures has positioned it well amid growing demand for logistics infrastructure in the U.K.
