FTSE 100 Rises 0.8% Driven by Unilever and GSK Gains

The FTSE 100 index closed up 0.8% at 10,871.02 on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Unilever led the gains with an 8.0% increase after reporting its fastest underlying sales growth in more than a decade, reaching 5.8% for the quarter ended June. Croda International also rose 8.0% following reports of accelerated second-quarter growth and reiterated full-year sales guidance.

GSK plc advanced 3.5% after exceeding second-quarter profit forecasts with a core operating profit of £2.80 billion. The pharmaceutical company also announced it will shift its research and development operations from Stevenage to a new flagship center in Cambridge. These gains occurred alongside a general decline in oil prices.

Barclays led the market decline with a 4.8% drop triggered by disappointing divisional results. The rally in London took place despite a severe sell-off in Asian markets, where South Korea's Kospi fell 11% due to concerns over Chinese competition and AI infrastructure spending. Investors are now awaiting an interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve System scheduled for Wednesday.