UK's FTSE 100 Ends Year Little Changed; Xaar, Reckitt Shares Tick Up

07:38 AM EST, 12/31/2025 (MT Newswires) -- London's FTSE 100 ended Wednesday's shortened trading session flat, closing 0.07% in the red, amid thin trading volumes ahead of the New Year holidays. Investment holding company Pershing Square (PSH.L) was the top gainer of the blue-chip index at 1.13% higher, while mining group Fresnillo lost the most by 2.64%. In corporate news, Berenberg lowered its price target for Xaar (XAR.L) to 1.40 pounds sterling from 1.60 pounds, while maintaining the stock's buy rating, citing more cautious assumptions regarding the electric vehicle battery market over the short term and regulatory uncertainty in Europe and the UK. "The switch to full battery-powered EVs by 2035 looks in doubt and therefore the capex environment for investment in new battery [insulation] technologies that Xaar is developing with its partners could be delayed," the research firm said. "The growth opportunity remains clear in our view, the timing of new product launches has historically been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, in its customers' control. We think there is an opportunity for the Product Print business to strategically shift in 2026." Xaar's shares added 0.49% at closing. Meanwhile, Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT.L) edged up 0.07% as it concluded the sale of its Essential Home business to Advent International, with the British consumer goods group to maintain a minority stake in Essential Home via a 30% shareholding in the private equity firm's acquisition vehicle. The London Stock Exchange is set to reopen on Jan. 2, 2026, for its first trading day of the new year.