London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 7,361.98 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Auto Trader was the top gainer after it said it achieved its highest ever six-monthly revenue and profits following solid performances from both the trade and retail segments. In the six months to 30 September, pre-tax profit rose to £150m from £66.2m, with revenue up 82% at £215.4m. Basic earnings per share came in at 12.63p, up 126%.
Miners were also the rise, with Anglo American, BHP and Rio Tinto all higher as copper prices advanced.
On the downside, Johnson Matthey was under the cosh after it announced the departure of its chief executive, alongside plans to sell its battery materials business and said the trading outlook for the full year was towards the lower end of market expectations.
Luxury fashion brand Burberry slid even as it said revenues are now back at pre-Covid levels and reinstated its dividend, as it highlighted sales difficulties in China.
B&M European Value Retail was also in the red as the discount retailer reported lower half-year earnings.
Royal Dutch Shell fell as it traded without entitlement to the dividend.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 704.00p 13.51%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,853.50p 4.28%
Polymetal International (POLY) 1,509.50p 4.18%
3i Group (III) 1,411.50p 3.37%
Evraz (EVR) 625.80p 2.56%
Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 16,685.00p 2.52%
Entain (ENT) 2,012.00p 2.44%
BHP Group (BHP) 1,946.20p 2.38%
Halma (HLMA) 3,097.00p 2.31%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,542.50p 2.19%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,253.00p -18.46%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,851.00p -5.90%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 607.60p -5.62%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 167.94p -3.23%
ITV (ITV) 123.20p -2.11%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 144.46p -1.86%
Royal Dutch Shell ‘A’ (RDSA) 1,652.80p -1.69%
Next (NXT) 8,126.00p -1.65%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 5,100.00p -1.58%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,430.50p -1.48%
