London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 6,733.45 in afternoon trade on Thursday amid quiet trade ahead of the Easter weekend.
GKN owner Melrose Industries was the standout gainer despite going ex-dividend.
Travel-related stocks were also in the black following a Financial Times report that ministers are planning a traffic light system to unlock foreign travel. Engine marker Rolls-Royce and British Airways and Iberia owner IAG were both higher.
On the downside, Phoenix Group and Smith & Nephew fell as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Melrose Industries (MRO) 176.40p 5.69%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 208.05p 4.92%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 109.60p 4.08%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 7,212.00p 3.92%
Fresnillo (FRES) 893.60p 3.40%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,342.00p 2.90%
Ferguson (FERG) 8,912.00p 2.81%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 497.70p 2.75%
Halma (HLMA) 2,437.00p 2.65%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 845.20p 2.50%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX) 715.20p -2.59%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 491.20p -1.66%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 2,732.50p -1.50%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 239.10p -1.40%
Evraz (EVR) 572.00p -1.04%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 7,186.00p -0.84%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,367.00p -0.80%
Tesco (TSCO) 227.05p -0.79%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 3,365.00p -0.77%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 5,521.00p -0.52%
