The FTSE 100 climbed on Thursday morning, aided by an earnings beat at Rolls-Royce. The aircraft engine maker revealed profit more than doubled to £1.6 billion for the year, fuelled by the recovery of its civil aerospace wing, which recorded a 15-year high for orders.
Lloyds dipped as the market opened, as the bank’s plans to increase shareholder rewards failed to divert attention from a dip in fourth-quarter profit and £450 million provision to cover potential costs of a probe into the motor finance market.
Hargreaves Lansdown also faced a blow early on, after reporting a slump in new business over the first half of its financial year.
And finally, elsewhere, Nvidia shares soared in US pre-market trading after the chip maker beat fourth-quarter expectations with revenue of US$22.1 billion.