The FTSE Finish Line – July 26 – 2023

The FTSE Finish Line – July 26 – 2023FTSE Earnings Disappoint, NatWest CEO Exit WeighsOn Wednesday, the UK's FTSE 100 experienced a slight decline due to negative corporate updates from some key companies. Miner Rio Tinto and bank Lloyds reported disappointing results, weighing down the blue-chip index. Additionally, NatWest Group's shares dropped by 2.9% after its CEO, Alison Rose, stepped down, acknowledging a "serious error of judgement" in discussing the bank's relationship with former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage with a BBC journalist. The FTSE 100 index lost 0.2%, while the more domestically focused FTSE 250 midcap index remained flat during the trading session.During the UK earnings season, Lloyds Banking Group, the country's largest mortgage lender, posted a pre-tax first-half profit that fell below analysts' expectations, leading to a 2.7% decline in the lender's stock price. The UK banks index also slipped by 0.9%. However, not all companies reported negative news. Rolls-Royce, the aero-engineering company, saw its stock soar by 19.3%, reaching its highest level in over three years, after raising its full-year operating profit forecast. This positive development also boosted the aerospace and defence sector, which added 5.1% during the session. British American Tobacco, the maker of Dunhill cigarettes, gained 2.2% after reporting a significant increase in half-year profit. Luxury automaker Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings also saw a rise of 4.2% in its stock price after posting a smaller pre-tax loss for the second quarter.Looking ahead, investor focus shifted to the U.S. Federal Reserve, as it was widely expected to announce a 25 basis points interest rate hike later in the day. The central bank's decision and any related announcements could have implications for the global financial markets.FTSE Intraday Bullish Above Bearish below 7570 – (7700 Target Hit New Pattern Emerging)Below 7550 opens 7400Primary support  is 7400Primary objective 775020 Day VWAP bearish, 5 Day VWAP bearish