FTSE 100 movers: BG higher as new boss starts early, HSBC lower amid tax evasion investigation

Natural gas producer BG Group edged higher after bringing forward the starting date of its new boss by one month. Helge Lund, who is joining the FTSE 100 company from Statoil, will start immediately as chief executive and an executive director.

Fresnillo, Randgold, Glencore and Antofagasta were all trading higher on hopes for stimulus in China. Randgold advanced even though it reported a 17% drop in annual profits for last year, though it did hike its dividend payment by 20%.

Tesco was also among the risers after hitting back at claims it “bullies” suppliers. The grocer argued that all cheaper prices were passed on to consumers and that price cuts were only expected in cases where commodity prices were lower.

Meanwhile, HSBC shares dipped after the bank's Swiss arm was accused of helping wealthy clients dodge taxes in an investigation based on leaked bank account files. The names of nearly 1,200 Indian clients feature in the documents, holding an estimated collective $4bn in their accounts.

Water company United Utilities and rival Severn Trent were among the fallers, as was National Grid.

Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 885.50p +2.97%
BG Group (BG.) 955.50p +2.20%
Tesco (TSCO) 232.15p +1.51%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,390.00p +1.51%
Glencore (GLEN) 269.25p +1.45%
Weir Group (WEIR) 1,869.00p +1.41%
CRH (CRH) 1,746.00p +1.28%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 415.00p +1.19%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,053.50p +0.83%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 707.50p +0.78%

Fallers
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 438.00p -3.59%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 963.00p -3.07%
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,782.00p -2.65%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 133.70p -2.48%
National Grid (NG.) 887.10p -2.44%
Hammerson (HMSO) 683.50p -2.43%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 1,271.00p -2.38%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,047.00p -2.34%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 607.30p -2.17%
Standard Life (SL.) 396.90p -2.10%