FTSE 100 Slips as GSK and Unilever Fall
London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.3% to 10,652.43 points by 0954 GMT on Wednesday 28 October 2026, while the FTSE 250 inched up 0.1%. Trading was cautious ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first Budget, due at around 12:30 GMT, and a US Federal Reserve decision widely expected to hold rates steady.
GSK and Unilever drag the index
GSK was the FTSE 100's weakest performer, falling 5.7%. Reuters linked the fall to its push to build its pipeline and a £1.9 billion cost-savings drive failing to convince investors. Unilever fell 2.2% after softer results in its foods business, dragging the personal care, drug and grocery sector down nearly 1.2%.
Standard Chartered bucks the mood
Unilever itself reported underlying sales up 5.2% and turnover rising 6.7% to €13.3 billion, and said it now expects at least 3% underlying volume growth for the full year and underlying sales growth of around 5% in the second half.
Standard Chartered bucked the mood, gaining 2.8% after lifting full-year guidance. Its third-quarter pre-tax profit rose 27% year on year to $2.25 billion, against analysts' expectations of $1.99 billion, with 2026 operating income growth now expected above the previous 5% to 7% range.
