FTSE 100 weighed down by energy stocks By Reuters

(Reuters) – London’s FTSE 100 eased on Thursday as weakness in heavyweight energy stocks outweighed optimism over a slew of strong corporate earnings reports.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 edged 0.1% lower with oil majors BP (LON:BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) being the top drags.

Insurer Aviva (LON:AV) rose 3.5% and was the top gainer on the FTSE 100 after it reported a 17% rise in first-half operating profit and said it would return at least 4 billion pounds ($5.55 billion) to shareholders.

Britain’s economy grew by a faster-than expected 1.0% in June, boosted by the huge services sector, against a Reuters poll of economists that pointed to a monthly growth of 0.8%.

The domestically focussed mid-cap index was flat with Cineworld leading gains on its U.S. listing plans, countering losses in financials.