The FTSE 100 ends lower despite reports of strong individual company performance. Both WPP and Diageo are cited as posting results that underline resilience in their respective sectors, but broader market sentiment remains cautious. One macroeconomic indicator highlighted in the coverage is the S&P Global UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which rises to 44.7 in July from 38.4 in June. While the improvement signals a less weak construction backdrop than in the previous month, the index remains below the 50 level typically associated with expansion, indicating activity is still contracting overall. Taken together, the reports suggest that firm earnings from notable constituents do not fully offset investor attention to wider economic conditions. The coverage therefore portrays a market that responds both to company-specific outcomes and to signals about the health of the UK economy, particularly in construction, even as the index finishes the session down.