FTSE 100 rises as AstraZeneca and Barclays report strong earnings

On July 29, 2025, the FTSE 100 index in the UK made notable gains, closing up 54.88 points, equating to 0.6%, and reaching a total of 9,136.32. This positive shift was propelled by strong earnings reports from major corporations such as AstraZeneca and Barclays. Investors responded favorably to a weekend's worth of earnings announcements, boosting share prices across the board, especially for the largest gainers, including Games Workshop and Entain. Games Workshop's shares surged 5.4% after reporting a 29% increase in pre-tax profit, drawing positive attention towards their overall performance for the financial year ending June 1. AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant based in Cambridge, also added to the momentum; it reported a 30% rise in pre-tax profit, totaling 3.13 billion dollars in the second quarter, significantly outperforming the market’s expectations. Barclays followed suit and saw its shares rise by 2.5% due to strong earnings despite no increase in future guidance. The sentiment in the market reflected a generally optimistic outlook, countered only by the challenges faced by Novo Nordisk, which reported a significant fall in shares following disappointing guidance on sales growth. In contrast to the positive developments seen in these companies, Novo Nordisk experienced a remarkable drop of 23% in its stock price after it revised its full-year sales and profit expectations downward, attributing the change to slower-than-anticipated demand for critical weight-loss and diabetes medications in the U.S. market. This sign of caution stood out against the otherwise upbeat environment of the day, dampening sentiment for some investors. On another front, Croda International struggled as well, facing a 19% decrease in pre-tax profit despite an overall increase in revenue. Overall, the upward trajectory of the FTSE 100 amid a wave of positive earnings reports indicates a resilient market atmosphere, reflecting investor confidence bolstered by robust corporate performances, especially from significant players in the pharmaceuticals and finance sectors. The various earnings reports provided a snapshot of the market’s health and consumer demand, setting expectations for future growth in the UK economy as investors look ahead with cautious optimism.