FTSE 100 news sentiment: Standard Chartered, AstraZeneca and Computacenter lead a week when Haleon and Reckitt took the hits

The average daily score across companies with coverage ran between +1.9 and +3.2. It started the week at +3.2 on Tuesday, dipped to +2.1 on Wednesday, then recovered to +2.9 on Thursday and +3.1 on Friday. Sunday was the low, at +1.9, though only 60 companies had coverage that day. Monday finished at +3.0 across 57 companies.

Coverage was thinner at the weekend. Fewer companies in the news means a few big stories carry more weight.

Computacenter topped the list at +9.7 across 65 relevant stories. Monday's coverage (+10.0) centred on a weekly recap noting raised FY26 profit guidance and a record £12.6bn backlog.

Standard Chartered averaged +7.4 over 121 stories, climbing from +5.5 on the first day to +8.0 on the last. Wednesday hit +10.0. Third-quarter profit beat forecasts, helped by trading and wealth, and the bank raised its income targets. Smaller items on advisory work and previews added little against that.

AstraZeneca averaged +7.1 over 195 stories. Tuesday's +9.2 came from very favourable late-stage cancer results at ESMO 2026, mainly for its stomach cancer drug, Imfinzi and Tagrisso. A postponed lung trial readout tempered the tone slightly.

Antofagasta plc (+6.9) had only six relevant stories. The one that mattered was the start of extraction at Polo Sur, which will supply oxide ore to Centinela. BAE Systems averaged +6.7 over 141 stories, lifted by a first firing trial of its Adaptable Deck Launcher, fresh contract news, an analyst upgrade and a higher interim dividend.

Reckitt averaged −2.2 over 96 stories. Wednesday scored −9.2, with coverage focused on a lower annual sales outlook after Lysol supply and production problems in North America. China weakness and cost pressures were also mentioned. Growth in India and emerging markets, plus a maintained margin target, offered some offset.

Informa averaged −2.1 over 40 stories. Monday's −6.3 centred on a cut to its growth outlook, with Saudi event postponements running into 2027. A bullish opinion piece and a note on director buying did little to balance it.

Haleon also averaged −2.1 over 96 stories. Friday's −10.0 followed a third-quarter sales shortfall and a reduced 2026 growth outlook, blamed on weak cold and flu sales and problems in China. A £500 million buyback and a chief executive memo about tough decisions barely changed the tone.

Metlen Energy & Metals (−1.8, five stories) was covered mainly for questions about how its UK project assets are ringfenced in a solar financing vehicle. Smith & Nephew (−1.8, eight stories) averaged negative, though its one scored article on Wednesday (+7.0) leaned positive, reflecting anticipation of extra hospital funding rather than a confirmed outcome.

Reckitt swung furthest upward, from −0.3 on Tuesday to +6.5 on Monday. Early coverage was light and mostly minor, including a marketing executive's departure and two sideways share-price commentaries. By Monday, coverage centred on third-quarter core revenue growth.

Associated British Foods went the other way, from +4.2 to −4.7. Tuesday's coverage was upbeat Primark consumer stories, including viral low-priced winter items and a better ethical fashion ranking than supermarket rivals. Monday's weekly recap flagged expected Primark weakness, lower margin and a Sugar loss.

Airtel Africa fell from +8.7 to +0.5. Tuesday's coverage covered strong first half-year results after the Airtel Money London listing, with an interim dividend and unchanged outlook. By Monday, coverage noted around 20% growth, but shares fell as capital spending surged.

Rio Tinto slipped from +5.0 to −2.8. Monday's coverage leaned negative as reports noted its shares sliding and trailing over the year, with a mining pause cited.

Analyst ratings and upcoming results each appeared in 10 company-days. Share buybacks followed, at nine, then third-quarter results at eight. Half-year results came up in six company-days, as did valuation concerns in five. Results season clearly shaped the week.