British equities showed resilience, remaining largely unchanged yet slightly positive for the second consecutive day on Thursday, as the FTSE 100 closed with a minimal increase of 0.02%. This stability comes as trading updates from leading corporations take center stage in the lead-up to the highly anticipated release of the January gross domestic product data scheduled for Friday. Halma, a prominent safety equipment manufacturer, witnessed a notable increase of 1.21% in its stock price after sharing encouraging news about its performance in the second half of its fiscal year ending March 31.
The company is projecting its adjusted profit to soar to record levels for the impressive 22nd straight year. Furthermore, it anticipates that organic revenue will surpass the levels achieved in the previous year, indicating strong operational growth. On another front, IG Group Holdings reported an annual increase in revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2025.
This derivatives trading powerhouse has expressed confidence in its ability to meet the consensus estimates regarding total revenue and adjusted pretax profit. As a result, shares rose by 1.35% at the market's close, reflecting positive investor sentiment. From an economic perspective, the UK Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reported a decrease in the house price balance, which fell to 11% in February, down from a revised 21% in the prior month.
This decline missed the market expectations for a 20% reading. RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinson commented on the current state of the UK housing market: "The UK housing market appears to be losing some momentum as the expiry of the temporary increase in stamp duty thresholds approaches. There are also rising concerns from survey respondents about the potential resurgence of inflationary pressures along with an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.
However, looking beyond the coming months, many foresee a likely resumption of an upward trend in sales activity accompanied by increasing prices.".