AstraZeneca and Barclays Boost FTSE 100 Amidst Gloomy Day for Novo Nordisk

The FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 9,136.32 on Tuesday, boosted by strong results from AstraZeneca and Barclays. Games Workshop led the way with a 5.4% gain, while Entain climbed 0.8% after raising guidance at its BetMGM joint venture. Novo Nordisk suffered a gloomy day, however, with investors digesting a barrage of corporate earnings in the UK and US.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 9,136.32 on Tuesday, buoyed by robust earnings reports from AstraZeneca and Barclays. Games Workshop led the pack with a 5.4% gain, while Entain climbed 0.8% after raising guidance at its BetMGM joint venture. Conversely, Novo Nordisk faced a challenging day, with investors reacting to a barrage of corporate earnings in the UK and US.

AstraZeneca, the largest FTSE 100 constituent, reported a 3.4% increase, driven by a 30% jump in pre-tax profit to USD3.13 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Revenue climbed 12% to USD14.46 billion, primarily due to strong performance in Oncology and BioPharmaceuticals. Barclays also advanced 2.5%, despite a lack of a guidance hike, thanks to a "good" set of results with underlying profit around 11% above consensus, driven by higher income and lower impairments.

Games Workshop, a fantasy game figurine maker and retailer, saw its pre-tax profit jump 29% to GBP262.8 million, with revenue rising 17% to GBP617.5 million. Entain climbed 0.8% as it raised guidance at its BetMGM joint venture. Meanwhile, Croda International struggled, posting a 10% decline despite improved revenue, as impairments limited its bottom line.

The FTSE 100 index closed up 54.88 points, 0.6%, at 9,136.32, while the FTSE 250 closed 158.73 points lower, 0.7%, at 21,793.07. The AIM All-Share closed down 7.27 points, 0.9%, at 765.75. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.7% at 913.22, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.7% to 19,125.47, and the Cboe Small Companies closed down 0.4% at 17,678.63.

In stark contrast, Novo Nordisk plunged 23% as it lowered full-year sales and profit guidance. The company cited slower-than-expected uptake of key weight-loss and diabetes treatments in the US, compounded by a more competitive landscape for Ozempic and lower-than-expected Wegovy penetration in select international markets.

The FTSE 100's performance was also influenced by the UK economy's improved sentiment, with the IMF forecasting that UK economic growth will surpass other major European economies this year and next. Additionally, Zoopla data showed a rise in demand during July, while mortgage approvals in June slightly exceeded expectations, indicating resilience in the UK property market.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/video/nvidias-tsmc-order-eli-lilly-161419906.html
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/te_news:473357:0-ftse-100-rises-to-new-record-high/
[3] https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ftse-100-climbs-earnings-cascade-163618479.html
[4] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/ftse-100-climbs-as-earnings-cascade-brings-cheer-ce7c5fded88ff521