FTSE 100 opened higher, up 35 points to 7341. London’s blue-chip index was boosted by several positive corporate updates, including Haleon.
GSK raised its full-year guidance after a bumper second quarter that exceeded City expectations. Total revenues for were up, with shingles drug Shingrix the star performer.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its profits fall during the second quarter amid slowing growth from its YouTube advertising revenue. Sales and earnings per share were both below estimates.
Reckitt Benckiser beat revenue expectations and raised guidance for the year but warned prices will stay elevated. The group said while the input environment remains “unpredictable,” prices will remain high for customers
Among the small caps, Diversified Energy acquired another well-decommissioning business in the US Appalachian Basin, its third this year. ConServ is a privately held plugging and well services provider run by David and Scott Freshwater based in West Virginia.
Coro Energy told investors its Italian gas assets generated revenues in the first six months of the company’s financial year, driven by a strong second quarter. It comes as the company opted to retain the assets amidst higher European gas pricing.
Mosman Oil and Gas said its planned well drilling on the Cinnabar project area is on track to kick off by early September. The company said that the necessary casing has been purchased and a rig contract has been signed.