Mixed Fortunes for British Equities Amid Earnings and Trade Uncertainty

British equities finished the day with mixed results on Thursday as investors parsed through a deluge of corporate earnings and monitored trade negotiations ahead of the looming August 1 tariff deadline.

The FTSE 100, representing blue-chip stocks, fell by 0.05%, yet it marked the most substantial monthly performance in half a year. Meanwhile, the midcap FTSE 250 index improved by 0.9%, securing its fourth monthly rise in succession.

Investors processed various trade developments from Washington and weighed the consequences of U.S. tariffs on corporate earnings. The focus now shifts towards the Bank of England's anticipated interest rate cut next week. Notable gains were seen in aerospace and defense sectors after Rolls-Royce revised its profit forecasts upward, causing its stock to hit record highs with an 8.5% increase.

(With inputs from agencies.)