AstraZeneca and HSBC were among the UK’s largest stocks reporting strong Q2 earnings. The FTSE 100 hit a record high of 9,000 points despite Trump’s tariffs. Rentokil and Rolls-Royce saw 10% share price increases. Analysts caution UK companies still face uncertainty post-tariffs. Lloyds Banking Group’s pre-tax profit rose 5% to £3.5 billion. Shell reported a decline in earnings to $4.2 billion in Q2 2025. Unilever’s pre-tax profit dropped 8.5% to EUR 5.09 billion in H1 2025. Diageo’s stock is down 27.29% year to date, with Morningstar lowering its fair value estimate to £24.40 from £25.90. BP’s pre-tax profit for Q2 2025 was $2.8 billion, a decrease from the previous year’s $6 billion. Despite this, BP made its largest oil and gas discovery in 25 years in Brazil.

Morningstar still considers BP’s shares undervalued, maintaining a fair value estimate of 445p. Year to date, BP shares have increased by approximately 3%. The authors of the article do not hold shares in any mentioned securities.

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– The UK government announces plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The move is part of a larger initiative to combat climate change and promote sustainable transportation options.

– Unemployment in the UK falls to its lowest level since the pandemic began, dropping to 4.5% in the three months to September. The number of job vacancies also reaches a record high, indicating a strong recovery in the labor market.

– UK inflation rises to 4.2% in October, the highest rate in a decade. The increase is driven by rising energy prices and supply chain disruptions, posing challenges for consumers and policymakers. The Bank of England is expected to respond with potential interest rate hikes to curb inflation.: Rolls-Royce, Lloyds Lead FTSE Gains