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U.K. stocks are turning in a mixed performance on Thursday with investors tracking corporate news, and the data on the nation’s GDP that came in line with expectations.<\/p>\n
Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK economy<\/span> expanded slightly as expected in August.<\/p>\n The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 16.10 points or 0.17% at 9,408.65 nearly half-an-hour past noon.<\/p>\n Croda International is gaining 3.2% after reaffirming its full-year outlook. However, the company warned of continued market softness and low order visibility through year-end.<\/p>\n Centica and Spirax Group both gained about 2%. Rolls-Royce Holdings and IMI are up 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively.<\/p>\n Coca-Cola HBC, Convatec Group, Smith & Nephew, Barclays, WPP, Melrose Industries, BAE Systems and Babcock International are up with moderate gains.<\/p>\n Whitbread is tanking nearly 10% after reporting a 7% drop in half-year profit to 287 million pounds from 309 million pounts a year ago. Adjusted profit before tax declined to 316 million pounds from 340 million pounds. <\/p>\n Admiral Group is down by about 3%. Metlen Energy & Metals, Games Workshop, Anglo American Plc, Marks & Spencer, Persimmon, Pershing Square Holdings, Airtel Africa, Burberry Group and Aviva are down 1 to 2.2%.<\/p>\n U.K.’s real gross domestic product advanced 0.1% month-on-month in August, reversing a revised 0.1% decline in July.<\/p>\n Total production in the industrial sector grew 0.4% compared to July, while services activity remained flat and the construction sector contracted 0.3%.<\/p>\n The annual growth in GDP eased to 1.3% in August from 1.5% in the prior month.<\/p>\n In the three months to August, real GDP advanced 0.3%, following a 0.2% rise in the three months to July. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n