Keeping track of what UK traders are shopping for and promoting might be attention-grabbing and typically helpful. Over the previous week, traders have been promoting three outstanding blue-chip FTSE 100 shares on Hargreaves Lansdown’s platform.

Right here, I’ll take a look at why, and see if any tickle my fancy.

Rolls-Royce

Let’s begin with the most-sold Footsie share, primarily based on the variety of offers positioned by Hargreaves Lansdown shoppers. This was engine maker Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR).  

At first look, this isn’t very shocking. The inventory flew above 900p in June, a brand new all-time excessive. This got here after the corporate beat off competitors to construct and deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) within the UK, someday within the mid-2030s.

The inventory has almost doubled over the previous 12 months. Due to this fact, traders seem to have been taking some income off the desk.

Or maybe some had been alarmed on the sudden outbreak of struggle between Israel and Iran final week. That is forcing airways to divert routes or cancel flights. Lengthy-haul journey demand is very delicate to such exterior shocks (wars, terrorism, volcano eruptions, pandemics, and so forth). 

Nonetheless, such dangers are arguably not mirrored within the inventory, which is buying and selling at 37 occasions this 12 months’s forecast earnings. A premium valuation.

That mentioned, the corporate has been firing on all cylinders just lately, with its three core divisions (civil aerospace, defence, and energy techniques) performing strongly. Every ought to take pleasure in regular long-term development.

I invested in Rolls-Royce again in 2023, and I’m proud of that place. I received’t be becoming a member of Hargreaves Lansdown’s prospects by promoting.

If the inventory dips, I’ll think about shopping for extra shares. However we’re nowhere close to that but.

BP

The second most-sold share was BP (LSE: BP). I discover this just a little extra shocking, because the Israel-Iran battle has despatched oil costs up. The BP share price has jumped 8.7% because the begin of June.

Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Worth Futures Group, instructed Reuters: “This [Iran war] is not a one-and-done; it’s probably much more similar to Russia and Ukraine.”

In that case, the present bump in oil price could possibly be simply the beginning.

One danger right here although is BP’s steadiness sheet, with web debt close to $27bn on the finish of the primary quarter. Servicing this implies much less money for share buybacks, dividends, and development initiatives.

I don’t personally spend money on oil shares, as they’re far too cyclical for my liking. But when I did, I may be tempted to think about BP right now. It’s low cost as chips, whereas providing a beautiful 6.3% trailing dividend yield.

IAG

The ultimate inventory being bought final week was Worldwide Consolidated Airways Group (LSE: IAG). The British Airways proprietor has some similarities with Rolls-Royce, in that its shares have almost doubled over 12 months and occasions within the Center East current challenges.

Flight detours improve flight occasions and burn extra gas, doubtlessly squeezing revenue margins. Additionally, the tragic crash in India received’t have helped passenger confidence. 

Stepping again then, I can see why traders have been urgent the promote button. IAG inventory is down 8% in every week.

With out which means to sound like a damaged document, I don’t are inclined to spend money on airline shares, for a similar purpose as above. However the inventory is buying and selling at low multiples, suggesting it could possibly be price contemplating, particularly if it retains falling.