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The FTSE 100 extended its winning run to nine, recouping early hefty falls, despite fresh problems for advertising group WPP. The FTSE 100 index closed up just 3.92 points at 9,760.06, another record close. The FTSE 250 ended down 171.99 points, 0.8%, at 22,276.28, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.09 points, 0.4%, at 769.80. WPP plunged 17% as it warned performance in the year-to-date was at the “low-end of expectations” as it cut the company’s outlook. The London-based advertising agency firm said revenue in the third quarter fell 8.4% to £3.26 billion, and was down 3.5% on a like-for-like basis. Revenue less pass-through costs slumped 11% to £2.46 billion, falling 5.9% like-for-like. New chief executive Cindy Rose acknowledged that recent performance was “unacceptable” and pledged to take action to address this. “There is a lot to do,” Ms Rose said, adding, “we are optimistic, energised and confident that we’re building the right plan”. It is the latest in a series of troubled days for WPP investors with shares down 63% in the last 12 months. In European equities on Thursday, the CAC 40 in Paris closed down 0.5%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended little changed. Stocks in New York were mixed with a 9.7% fall in Meta Platforms weighing on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.5%, the S&P 500 index was 0.3% lower, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.8%. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, forecast increased investment and higher operating costs ahead after a third quarter distorted by a hefty tax provision. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told investors he feels the right strategy is to “aggressively front-load building capacity”. Investors also weighed hawkish comments from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell who pushed back against market pricing for another interest rate cut in December. Mr Powell, speaking after the Fed cut rates by a quarter point at its October meeting, said a reduction in December was not a “foregone conclusion” and a cut should not be assumed. JPMorgan analyst Michael Feroli said: “By Powell’s standards, these were unusually blunt remarks.” While Bank of America said Mr Powell pushed back “stridently” against market pricing of a December cut and drove the message home “several times” during the press conference. The US rate call came ahead of central bank meetings in Japan and Europe. The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged, decided by a seven to two majority vote. In a statement released by BoJ following the monetary policy meeting, it said interest rates were held at 0.5%, matching consensus cited by FXStreet. “High uncertainties still remain regarding the impact of trade and other policies on economic activity and prices at home and abroad,” the BoJ said in a statement following the decision. While in Europe, the European Central Bank left rates on hold for a third meeting in a row stating its outlook for inflation is broadly unchanged. The decision by the Frankfurt-based lender leaves the interest rates on the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility unchanged at 2.00%, 2.15% and 2.40% respectively. The widely expected decision is the third hold in succession by the ECB, following similar outcomes in July and September. Prior to the hold in July, it had cut for seven meetings in a row. Deutsche Bank Chief European economist Mark Wall said “despite the US tariffs, despite all the various sources of uncertainty, the European economy continues to eke out some growth”. “Economic ‘resilience’ is keeping the ECB doves in check, and the policy pause on the rails,” he said. Mr Powell’s comments put the dollar on the front foot and pushed bond yields upwards. The pound was quoted at 1.3149 dollars at the time of the London equities close on Thursday, lower compared to 1.3236 dollars on Wednesday. The euro fell to 1.1565 dollars from 1.1660 dollars. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at 154.11 yen, higher compared to 152.10 yen. The yield on the US 10-year Treasury was quoted at 4.09%, widening from 4.00% on Wednesday. The yield on the US 30-year Treasury was quoted at 4.64%, stretched from 4.57%. Back in London, lender Standard Chartered rose 1.9% after stating it expects to reach its return on tangible equity target in 2025 instead of by 2026. Chief executive officer Bill Winters said progress was broad-based and highlighted strong double-digit growth in Wealth Solutions and Global Banking, alongside good momentum in Global Markets. On the FTSE 250, Computacenter gained 5.0% as it said it performed strongly in the third quarter with continued momentum in North America, improvements in the UK, and a return to growth in Germany. Ithaca Energy and Harbour Energy rose 4.6% and 3.3% respectively after a report in the Financial Times said the UK Government could scrap its windfall tax on the oil-and-gas sector one year earlier than planned. Meanwhile, conditional dealing in lender Shawbrook Group began in London. Shares closed at 396 pence, well above the 370p offer price, giving it a market value of just over £2 billion. Unconditional dealing on the London Main Market will begin on Tuesday next week. TT Electronics was a star performer, soaring 59% after accepting a £287 million takeover approach from Cicor Technologies. Bronschhofen, Switzerland-based Cicor develops, and manufactures electronic components, devices, and systems. Woking, England-based TT, which also manufactures electronic components, said the cash and shares offer values each share in TT at 155p. Brent oil was quoted at 64.92 dollars a barrel at the time of the London equities close on Thursday, up from 64.52 dollars late on Wednesday. Gold was little changed, trading at 3,998.00 dollars an ounce against 3,997.24 dollars on Wednesday. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Airtel Africa, up 6.4 pence at 274.8p, Auto Trader, up 15.2p at 808.8p, Centrica, up 3.3p at 179.8p, Standard Chartered, up 28.0p at 1,544.0p, and GSK, up 31.0p at 1,783.0p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were WPP, down 61.7p at 298.85p, JD Sports Fashion, down 3.32p at 95.0p, Whitbread, down 80.0p at 2,967.0p, Segro, down 14.4p at 699.7p and Burberry, down 26.0p at 1,280.0p. Friday’s global economic calendar has Canada GDP data, eurozone inflation figures and the Chicago PMI in the US. There are no significant events scheduled on Friday’s UK corporate calendar. – Contributed by Alliance News
