FTSE 100 movers: Centrica under pressure; BT's EE boost cheers investors

The FTSE 100 was as quiet as a mouse on Thursday as data showed a slowdown in UK and China services activity growth in April. At 1429 BST the blue chip index was down 0.07% at 6,108.

Centrica was under major pressure after the British Gas owner announced plans to raise around £750m in a placing to fund acquisitions and cut debt. the shares were down almost 12%.

Software company Sage was sitting lower after it reported a drop in first-half pre-tax profit despite a rise in revenue, as it announced an agreement to buy a 20.7% stake in Fairsail.

Smith & Nephew dropped after saying weakness in China offset a solid performance in the US in its first quarter revenue.

BT Group shares were up 3% after the company reported a 9% rise in full year adjusted profits before tax to £3.5bn and a 6% gain in revenue to £18.9bn, boosted by two months' contribution from newly acquired EE.

RSA Insurance jumped after saying first quarter underwriting results were “good” with operating profits up strongly as a consequence.

Morrisons advanced after reporting a 0.7% rise in first quarter like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, and a 1.2% rise including fuel. It was the second consecutive quarter of positive like-for-like sales growth for the chain, which had been flagging in recent years.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Anglo American (AAL) 663.20p 3.11%
BT Group (BT.A) 452.75p 3.01%
Next (NXT) 5,300.00p 2.91%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 843.40p 2.26%
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 479.80p 2.19%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 190.70p 1.71%
Pearson (PSON) 796.50p 1.53%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 441.40p 1.38%
Glencore (GLEN) 146.85p 1.24%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,749.00p 1.05%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Centrica (CNA) 204.00p -11.73%
Inmarsat (ISAT) 876.50p -5.75%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 617.50p -4.26%
Sage Group (SGE) 582.50p -3.56%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,128.00p -3.09%
Provident Financial (PFG) 2,867.00p -2.55%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 214.30p -2.24%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 263.00p -1.79%
ITV (ITV) 221.80p -1.47%
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,049.00p -1.39%