London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.6% at 7,117.23 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Housebuilder Berkeley Group was a high riser after FTSE 250 peer Crest Nicholson said it swung to a first-half profit and upgraded its full-year profit guidance amid solid demand.
IG market analyst Chris Beauchamp said: “The UK recovery is certainly in full swing where homes are concerned, Britons having escaped from lockdown by renewing their love affair with property. Activity in the market is certainly on the rise, with ‘business as usual’ returning remarkably quickly.”
The stock was also boosted after both UBS and Canaccord Genuity lifted their price targets for it.
On the downside, BT was weaker as Numis cut the shares to ‘sell’ from ‘reduce’ after an investor briefing.
Vodafone, United Utilities and British Land were all in the red as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Flutter Entertainment (CDI) (FLTR) 14,245.00p 2.81%
Royal Mail (RMG) 593.40p 2.52%
Entain (ENT) 1,849.00p 1.90%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 4,704.00p 1.84%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 649.80p 1.75%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 1,983.50p 1.72%
Rightmove (RMV) 665.00p 1.65%
Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 6,506.00p 1.62%
Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 1,289.00p 1.62%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,866.50p 1.58%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Evraz (EVR) 591.20p -3.84%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 126.36p -3.29%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 990.40p -3.00%
Informa (INF) 503.80p -2.33%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 154.85p -2.06%
British Land Company (BLND) 509.40p -1.81%
BT Group (BT.A) 201.60p -1.80%
Pearson (PSON) 833.20p -1.44%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 1,565.00p -1.04%
Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX) 669.00p -1.04%