London’s FTSE 100 was flat at 7,303.67 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Engineer Smiths Group was the standout gainer on the FTSE 100 after it backed its full-year expectations as it said growth had accelerated in the first quarter.
Insurer Admiral was in the black, having fallen a day earlier after results from peer Direct Line.
Associated British Foods was on the rise for the second day in a row, after reporting a jump in full-year sales and profits on Tuesday despite surging input cost inflation, following a bumper performance at its budget fashion brand Primark.
Flutter Entertainment was down despite boosting its forecasts for annual US revenues after a strong third quarter.
Aviva was also weaker even as the insurer posted a 10% rise in third-quarter gross written premiums and backed its dividend and capital returns guidance.
Vodafone fell after agreeing agreed a joint venture deal with infrastructure fund manager GIP and private equity firm KKR to hold its 81.7% stake in Vantage Towers, valuing the mobile towers business at €16.2bn.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,608.00p 3.64%
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,983.00p 2.77%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,497.00p 2.67%
Haleon (HLN) 284.80p 2.37%
Fresnillo (FRES) 823.80p 2.08%
BAE Systems (BA.) 800.40p 1.73%
RS Group (RS1) 897.00p 1.70%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 7,912.00p 1.62%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,399.50p 1.36%
SSE (SSE) 1,607.50p 1.36%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Informa (INF) 547.60p -4.27%
Flutter Entertainment (CDI) (FLTR) 11,385.00p -3.39%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 376.20p -3.29%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 1,125.00p -2.51%
Whitbread (WTB) 2,503.00p -2.49%
BT Group (BT.A) 114.55p -2.47%
Aviva (AV.) 424.00p -2.28%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 103.96p -2.15%
Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI) (SKG) 2,968.00p -2.08%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 120.85p -1.87%
