Good morning from London where the sun is shining and the FTSE 100 has recovered its early losses to be firmly in the green so far today.
UK inflation data has taken centre stage so far today, and fresh data from the ONS shows the consumer price index continues to fall with a rise of 6.8% in the year to July marking a meaty drop from June’s reading of 7.9%.
Looking at the stock market itself now, and it’s a clash of the insurance titans so far this morning with Admiral and Aviva both in the top three gainers. Admiral shares jumped as the firm announced increased profit and turnover during the six months to June, with a reduced dividend failing to rain on the parade. Aviva looking good as well, with shares climbing on the back of the company’s own better-than-expected half-year results, which proved its cost reduction plans are on track.
At the other end of the spectrum it was Rightmove that’s the biggest loser so far this morning, with Natwest Group hot on its heels.
Over In the US a solid IPO for Vietnamese EV maker VinFast saw its market cap exceed the likes of Ford and General Motors following Tuesday’s debut on the Nasdaq.
And in the small caps, Tungsten West rose on the news it had filed its final permit for mineral processing at the Hemerdon mine in Devon.