London’s FTSE 100 was up 1.2% at 7,383.10 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Centrica surged as the British Gas owner announced a share buyback programme and lifted guidance for full-year earnings.
ConvaTec was also a high riser after the medical products maker upgraded its full-year guidance as it reported group revenues had grown 2.4% on a reported basis over the ten months ended 31 October.
St James’s Place was boosted by an upgrade to ‘outperform’ at KBW.
Discount retailer B&M European Value Retail was under pressure after it reiterated its earnings guidance for the year and posted a rise in interim revenues but a drop in profit.
In the 26 weeks to 24 September, group adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell 17.9% to £232m. In the UK, adjusted EBITDA declined 10.6%, as the trading gross margin was hit by higher markdowns in the gardening category due to the late arrival of warm weather.
Haleon was also weaker even as the former consumer health arm of GSK reported a 16.1% increase in third-quarter revenue, driven by higher prices, and forecast organic sales growth of 8-8.5%.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Centrica (CNA) 84.26p 8.61%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 229.40p 8.12%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 1,204.50p 5.94%
Schroders (SDR) 440.00p 5.44%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 113.25p 5.40%
SEGRO (SGRO) 833.40p 5.36%
Experian (EXPN) 2,911.00p 5.17%
Croda International (CRDA) 6,990.00p 5.11%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 871.00p 5.09%
St James’s Place (STJ) 1,127.00p 4.98%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 352.60p -5.75%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 209.90p -3.94%
Haleon (HLN) 275.85p -3.63%
BAE Systems (BA.) 777.60p -2.87%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,096.00p -2.65%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 368.00p -2.15%
Shell (SHEL) 2,342.00p -1.74%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,335.50p -1.68%
BP (BP.) 475.90p -1.29%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 118.10p -1.17%
