Safety equipment and hazard detection products group Halma has raised its interim dividend by 7% after a record first-half performance which saw sales top the £1bn mark, as it retained its guidance for the full year.

London stocks dipped in early trade on Thursday after third-quarter numbers from US tech giant Nvidia failed to impress investors and as geopolitical tensions continued to simmer.

London stocks had popped into the black by midday on Thursday as investors mulled third-quarter results from US tech giant Nvidia and the latest UK borrowing figures.

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.6% at 8,133.60 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

London stocks ended Thursday on a positive note, as markets rebounded following quarterly results from US tech giant Nvidia and investor response to the latest UK government borrowing figures.