FTSE 100 movers: Randgold shines but Worldpay slumps on placing
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.7% to 7,160.19 in afternoon trade as investors digested the Bank of England’s latest rate announcement and upgrade to growth forecasts.
Randgold Resources was the top performer as gold prices advanced.
Food service company Compass Group was among the standout gainers after it reported growth in first quarter revenue as it maintained its outlook for 2017.
In the three months to the end of December, organic revenue was up 2.8%, in line with the group’s expectations and Compass said it continues to see strong levels of new business wins and good retention rates.
Consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser rallied as confirmed that it is in “advanced negotiations” to buy US baby food maker Mead Johnson for around $16.7bn, a move which could bolster its health products business.
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell was on the front foot even as it reported a decline in full year profits, as investors were cheered by the company’s underlying strength and its decision to maintain a dividend. The company said profits in the fourth quarter were hit by the legacy of its BG acquisition and the reassessment of its tax position.
On the downside, payments processor Worldpay slumped as Ship Global 2, a company jointly owned by funds managed by Advent International and Bain Capital, said it has sold 214m shares in the company at 282.75p each. Also on Thursday, Worldpay announced it has poached Santander’s former head of global innovation Peter Jackson to head its UK business, starting on 1 March.
Speciality chemicals company Johnson Matthey was in the red despite reporting a 19% jump in third-quarter sales and saying it will achieve its fiscal 2017 earnings expectations.
Private equity group 3i was also weaker as it said its portfolio generated an increased level of income in the third quarter and that it remains on track to deliver its target dividend of 7.55p per share.
In the three months to the end of 2016, £19.2m of income was received in dividends, interest receivable and fees from portfolio assets, a 32% rise on the amount a year before.
Risers
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,895.00p 4.23%
Compass Group (CPG) 1,450.00p 3.79%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 7,081.00p 3.67%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,142.00p 3.58%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,278.50p 2.50%
Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,190.00p 2.48%
Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,530.00p 2.40%
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,493.00p 1.84%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 794.00p 1.77%
Whitbread (WTB) 3,996.00p 1.71%
Fallers
Worldpay Group (WPG) 279.20p -2.95%
Capita (CPI) 488.70p -2.06%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,240.00p -1.28%
3i Group (III) 701.00p -0.99%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 237.30p -0.96%
Aviva (AV.) 479.70p -0.93%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 993.00p -0.90%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 828.00p -0.90%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 64.85p -0.87%
Intu Properties (INTU) 266.90p -0.74%