London’s FTSE 100 was 0.2% higher at 7,012.77 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Precious metals miner Fresnillo shone after saying it was on track to meet its full-year targets as second-quarter silver production rose 18%.
St James’s Place was higher after it reported a jump in its first-half underlying cash result amid a sharp increase in funds under management.
Barclays rallied after it smashed first-half profit estimates as it released £700m in impairments, resumed dividends and announced a £500m share buyback. The bank reported pre-tax profit of £5bn for the six months to June 30, well above the consensus forecast of £4.1bn, and up from £1.3bn.
British Airways and Iberia parent IAG flew higher after well-received results from Wizz Air and on news that the UK will allow in double-jabbed visitors from the EU and US without the need to quarantine.
IG market analyst Joshua Mahony said: “With summer in full swing, the airlines will hope that this measure drives a swift and sharp rise in bookings as they aim to make up for an incredibly tough period.”
Broadcaster ITV was weaker despite reporting a rise in interim profit and revenue as it said it was “emerging from the worst effects of the pandemic”, with a recovery in advertising revenues.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 803.80p 6.60%
St James’s Place (STJ) 1,593.50p 5.67%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 102.60p 4.41%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 182.38p 4.03%
Barclays (BARC) 175.54p 3.64%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 163.20p 3.32%
Just Eat Takeaway.Com N.V. (CDI) (JET) 6,365.00p 2.38%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 5,578.00p 2.01%
Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 1,303.00p 1.96%
Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 14,955.00p 1.67%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT) 5,525.00p -3.07%
ITV (ITV) 117.00p -1.97%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 397.90p -1.34%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 2,738.50p -1.16%
WPP (WPP) 933.20p -0.93%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 5,580.00p -0.89%
Avast (AVST) 568.20p -0.87%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 115.76p -0.84%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,989.00p -0.76%
Entain (ENT) 1,822.00p -0.68%
