London midday: Rolls Royce leads gains ahead of US data

London-listed shares were moving higher at the end of the week as Rolls Royce dismissed worries about an impending rights-issue and after better-than-expected results out of German lender Commerzbank helped to buoy sentiment towards the bank sector across the Continent.

As of 11:53GMT the Footsie was gaining 103.08 points or 1.86% to 5,693.77, albeit after plumbing three-year lows the day before.

Overnight, US stocks lost more than 1% while in Asia the Nikkei-225 capped its worst week, closing down by 4.84% on Friday, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.22% lower.

There was good news to be had on the geopolitical front as world powers meeting in Munich, Germany agreed to pursue a cease-fire in Syria that would begin in a week's time.

Stock in Rolls-Royce was powering ahead by 16% after the aircraft engine-maker kept its 2016 guidance unchanged and halved its dividend, with 2015 profits and cash flow not as bad as analysts had feared. Management also dismissed any need for a rights issue.

After a precipitous falls in previous sessions, banking stocks rebounded, helped by a reassuring surge from Germany's Commerzbank as it latest quarterly results impressed.

German GDP also allayed some fears about Deutsche Bank as it hit the 0.3% growth mark targeted by economists for the fourth quarter of 2015, with CPI inflation also in line at 0.5%.

Another possible boost for the financial sector was the vote of confidence from JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon as he splashed out on $26m worth of the bank’s shares.

Firmer oil prices were another stimulant, boosted by comments from Saudi Arabia’s energy minister that have fuelled hopes of a coordinated production cut by OPEC members.

Prompt-month Brent crude futures were up by 4.6% at $31.50, helping to push the Stoxx 600 oil and gas index up 3.85%.

"As another nerve shredding week draws to a close there appears to be some mild relief for investors as equities try to drive higher," said Mike McCudden at broker Interactive Investor.

"However, it may take some time before investors are truly convinced that a move back in to riskier assets is worthwhile, as the market turmoil emanating from Asia and the euro zone shows no sign of going away any time soon. With a raft of economic data due today as well as an Ecofin meeting, we may yet see some more turbulence as we head in to the weekend break."

Data still due out later on Friday in the US included January's US retail sales numbers, where expectations were for no change over the month after a 0.1% decline in December. December business inventories and flash February University of Michigan consumer sentiment index were also scheduled for release.

UK larger-cap company news was thin on the ground, with the main faller being clothes retailer Supergroup, after founder Julian Dunkerton cut his stake.

Reports were that Dunkerton sold the 4.9% stake worth £53m, his first share sale since the fashion retailer listed on the stock market six years ago, in order to fund a recent divorce settlement.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 5,638.02 1.83%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 15,302.08 0.81%
techMARK (TASX) 2,902.18 0.97%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 611.50p 16.04%
Anglo American (AAL) 364.15p 15.54%
Glencore (GLEN) 96.51p 9.88%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 416.90p 8.01%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 416.90p 7.63%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 678.00p 7.29%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 1,810.50p 6.25%
Worldpay Group (WI) (WPG) 284.70p 5.59%
Old Mutual (OML) 158.20p 4.62%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 233.20p 4.56%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Tesco (TSCO) 175.35p -2.34%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 167.20p -1.01%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 539.00p -0.83%
BT Group (BT.A) 446.90p -0.78%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,858.00p -0.75%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,003.00p -0.59%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 476.00p -0.52%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,866.00p -0.48%
CRH (CRH) 1,654.00p -0.30%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,588.00p -0.13%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Vedanta Resources (VED) 222.00p 5.79%
Aggreko (AGK) 831.00p 5.39%
Weir Group (WEIR) 832.50p 5.24%
FirstGroup (FGP) 84.95p 5.20%
Pendragon (PDG) 35.36p 5.08%
Cairn Energy (CNE) 147.00p 4.91%
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 220.00p 4.51%
Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 326.70p 4.22%
Berendsen (BRSN) 1,107.00p 4.04%
Investec (INVP) 419.20p 4.00%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Henderson Group (HGG) 217.90p -4.80%
Atkins (WS) (ATK) 1,142.00p -3.79%
Allied Minds (ALM) 300.10p -2.88%
Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX) 124.00p -2.67%
Supergroup (SGP) 1,294.00p -2.41%
AO World (AO.) 159.30p -2.27%
Interserve (IRV) 357.30p -2.16%
Just Retirement Group (JRG) 121.80p -2.16%
Jimmy Choo (CHOO) 125.20p -1.80%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 318.90p -1.55%