GCIFTSE 100 movers: M&S surges on results; Persimmon takes a hit
London's FTSE 100 was down 0.8% at 8,348.43 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Marks & Spencer surged to the top of the index as it posted a jump in full-year sales and profits as the retailer's turnaround efforts bore fruit.
In the 52 weeks to 30 March, profit before tax and adjusting items rose 58% to £716.4m, with revenue up 9.3% to £13bn. Food sales grew 13% during the year, while clothing and home sales rose 5.3%.
M&S said its "stronger financial position and performance" gave it the opportunity to restore dividend payments at a sustainable level, with a proposed final dividend of 2p, resulting in a full-year dividend of 3p for 2023/24.
Severn Trent was in the red after full-year results, while RS Group tumbled as it said annual profits dropped by a quarter.
The industrial and electrical products provider - formerly Electrocomponents - pinned the blame on weakness in global industrial production and the unwinding of unusual post-pandemic trading tailwinds.
Adjusted operating profit slumped by 25% on a like-for-like basis to £312m in the 12 months to 31 March, as LFL revenues fell 8% to £2.94bn and the adjusted operating profit margin fell to 10.6% from 13.5%.
Housebuilder Persimmon was weaker as a higher-than-expected UK inflation print for April dashed summer rate cut hopes.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 290.30p 6.03%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,670.00p 2.18%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 740.60p 1.93%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 374.00p 1.85%
Diploma (DPLM) 4,278.00p 1.62%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 549.00p 1.44%
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) 2,328.00p 1.31%
RS Group (RS1) 815.50p 1.12%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 254.60p 1.11%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 56.80p 1.10%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Antofagasta (ANTO) 2,310.00p -4.15%
3i Group (III) 2,856.00p -3.51%
Glencore (GLEN) 485.15p -2.95%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,413.50p -2.85%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 345.40p -2.70%
St James's Place (STJ) 466.60p -2.38%
Fresnillo (FRES) 617.00p -2.37%
Kingfisher (KGF) 258.40p -2.27%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 5,703.00p -2.09%
Pearson (PSON) 935.00p -2.09%
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