The FTSE 100 is off to a decent start today as prospects of peace talks in Ukraine and Iran nuclear deals override concerns about the US fiscal condition and Moody's credit outlook downgrade.
An hour into trade, the blue-chip index is up 29 points at 8,828, a gain of about a third of a percent.
Diploma, the engineer specialising in controls and seals, is topping the leaderboard, up more than 15%. It has lifted others engineers and industrial shares too.
Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) shares are also higher this morning after it announced a new €2 billion share buyback alongside its prelims, saying the turnaround of its business in Germany is bearing fruit and a return to growth is expected this year.
Greggs PLC (LSE:GRG) has also reported an improvement in sales growth in recent weeks. Total sales were up 7.4% to £784 million in the first 20 weeks of 2025, with like-for-like growth of 2.9%.
The bakery chain said the improved performance in the last 11 weeks was supported by "better trading conditions" and new products.
Centrica is up 1.6% after striking a deal to sell a stake in the North Sea Cygnus gas field for £215 million.
__thumb.jpg)
