FTSE 100 movers: Centrica drops, oil and gas stocks lower

With oil and gas prices plummeting, Centrica took dramatic action by slashing its dividend and future payout policy, warning that earnings for next year will be lower than expected too. Shares in the British Gas owner dropped sharply the company cut its dividend 21% to 19.2p, which will be a “major blow” to shareholders, according to analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.

Easyjet was among the risers after revealing the launch of a new route between Stansted Airport and Monastir in Tunisia. The company expects to fly 13,000 passengers between the destinations annually, with the first flights starting on 2 June 2015.

"It's great that we are able to add another further afield sun destination joining destinations already offered like Sharm el Sheik and Morocco,” said Neil Slaves, commercial manager at Easyjet. “We expect this new route to be especially popular amongst those who wishing to try somewhere different this summer."

Oil and gas stocks such as Tullow, BG Group, Shell and BP were also lower as crude prices declined.
 Brent oil fell to below $58 a barrel on concerns that US crude stockpiles hit a record high last week.

Glaxosmithkline was trading lower after going ex-dividend.

Risers
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,125.00p +2.68%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 955.00p +2.19%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 3,058.00p +2.00%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,133.00p +1.98%
Bunzl (BNZL) 1,923.00p +1.75%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,776.00p +1.60%
National Grid (NG.) 887.90p +1.59%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 439.90p +1.59%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 144.60p +1.54%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 495.50p +1.52%

Fallers
Centrica (CNA) 256.90p -8.61%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,011.00p -4.26%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 393.40p -3.84%
BG Group (BG.) 945.20p -3.23%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,220.00p -3.10%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,198.50p -2.05%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 4,397.00p -1.96%
Weir Group (WEIR) 1,858.00p -1.95%
BP (BP.) 442.70p -1.91%
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,527.50p -1.80%