The FTSE 100 started Thursday on the backfoot with a couple of notable movers weighing on the market. In early trade, the blue chip index was about a third of a percent down at 8,706.
Leading the fallers initially is WPP PLC after its fourth-quarter results met expectations but guidance was for flat to down-2% revenues this year.
Ocado Group PLC is also under pressure after it reported a 14% drop in revenues for 2024. But it increased underlying profit on an EBITDA basis and trimmed its statutory losses, saying it remains confident of producing positive cashflows by next year.
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC is top of the leaderboard, up 15% to a new all-time high as investors celebrate £1 billion buyback and dividend return.
Aviva's shares are also higher after it announced a final dividend of 23.8p per share, taking its total for the year 7% higher, which is on top of a £300 million share buyback.
