FTSE 100 movers: Bunzl surges; housebuilders slump

dl bunzl plc bnzl industrials industrial goods and services general industrials diversified industrials ftse 100 premium 20230327 2046 — BunzlSharecast graphic / Josh White

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 8,354.72 in afternoon trade on Tuesday.

Bunzl surged to the top of the index after it lifted its adjusted operating profit guidance for the full year and announced a £250m share buyback.

EasyJet and IAG flew higher after Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said fare falls had levelled out.

Miners Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta all gained as copper prices rose, while oil giant BP gushed higher as tensions in the Middle East boosted oil prices.

JD Sports was in the red, having racked up strong gains last week after saying it saw a return to like-for-like growth in its second quarter, with its store rollout programme in North America and Europe providing a boost while the UK market remains subdued.

The losses also came as it emerged that Applied Nutrition, which is part-owned by JD Sports, is planning a £500m float on the London Stock Exchange this year.

Housebuilders were under the cosh, with Barratt Developments, Berkeley, Persimmon, Vistry and Taylor Wimpey all down following recent gains.

The losses came as Jefferies reiterated its positive stance on UK housebuilders, saying it still sees considerable upside potential to share prices from the improving rate environment and government changes to planning.

The bank said that despite a strong share price performance since October last year, its analysis suggests that share prices are now looking through 2025, but are in most part still shy of reflecting FY26 estimates.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Bunzl (BNZL) 3,420.00p 6.41%
easyJet (EZJ) 474.20p 5.87%
Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,505.00p 2.97%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,286.00p 1.60%
Whitbread (WTB) 2,893.00p 1.58%
BP (BP.) 435.85p 1.53%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 182.20p 1.39%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,827.00p 1.38%
BT Group (BT.A) 137.60p 1.29%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,896.50p 0.99%