GCIFTSE 100 movers: Vistry gains on results; AB Foods slumps
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1% at 8,273.84 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Housebuilder Vistry was the standout gainer on the index as it announced a further £130m share buyback and posted a 7% increase in first-half pre-tax profit.
In the half year to 30 June, adjusted pre-tax profit rose to £186.2m from £174m in the same period a year earlier, with total completions up 9.1% to 7,792. Vistry hailed "good demand" across its Partner Funded markets.
Revenue was 11.1% higher at £1.97bn.
Whitbread was also in the black as Redburn upgraded shares of the Premier Inn owner to 'neutral'.
Associated British Foods fell as it said like‐for‐like sales at Primark were expected to fall by around 0.5% in the second half of the financial year, with a projected decline of 0.9% in the fourth quarter due to wet weather in the UK and Ireland which hit footfall and seasonal sales in womenswear and footwear.
Admiral and DS Smith both lost ground as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Vistry Group (VTY) 1,394.00p 5.77%
Whitbread (WTB) 3,017.00p 4.04%
WPP (WPP) 734.60p 3.93%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,695.00p 3.58%
Entain (ENT) 638.00p 3.51%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 641.60p 3.24%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 1,058.00p 2.82%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 655.00p 2.66%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 768.40p 2.53%
Barclays (BARC) 228.95p 2.50%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,340.00p -6.44%
Admiral Group (ADM) 2,839.00p -3.14%
Relx plc (REL) 3,455.00p -2.76%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 451.80p -2.67%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 12,752.00p -2.28%
Halma (HLMA) 2,488.00p -2.20%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 461.20p -2.04%
M&G (MNG) 208.60p -1.97%
GSK (GSK) 1,637.50p -1.59%
Spirax Group (SPX) 7,395.00p -1.47%
Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest
The information, investment views and recommendations in this article are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this article should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engaging in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the writer but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. Vox Markets may receive payment from companies mentioned for enhanced profiling or publication presence. The writer may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.