The FTSE 100 finished little changed around 9,440 points on Thursday as investors digested a mix of economic indicators and corporate earnings. ONS data showed the UK economy grew by a modest 0.1% in August, following July’s 0.1% contraction, driven primarily by manufacturing production. Meanwhile, the UK trade deficit widened to 21.2 billion GBP, the largest since January 2022, as exports to both the US and EU declined. Among individual stocks, Whitbread fell 10% after reporting a 2% decline in revenues for the 26 weeks to 28 August 2025, alongside a 7% drop in adjusted profits, citing “broadly flat UK total accommodation sales” despite positive momentum in Germany. On the upside, Croda rose more than 6% after reaffirming its full-year outlook, though the chemicals maker cautioned that market softness and low order visibility may persist through year-end.