FTSE 100 movers: Johnson Matthey surges; Admiral in the red

dl johnson matthey plc jmat basic materials chemicals chemicals chemicals diversified ftse 100 premium 20230403 1416 — Johnson MattheySharecast graphic / Josh White

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 7463.32 in afternoon on Friday as investors mulled the latest US non-farm payrolls data.

Johnson Matthey surged to the top of the index 100 after Standard Industries nearly doubled its shareholding in the specialty chemicals group to over 10%.

Miners Anglo American, Glencore and Antofagasta rallied after better-than-expected China manufacturing data.

The latest data from Caixin revealed a return to growth in the manufacturing sector. The purchasing managers’ index rose to 51.0 from 49.2 the month before, coming in above the 50.0 that separates contraction from expansion. This was also comfortably above analysts’ expectations of 49.3 and marked the highest reading since February.

Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said: "In August, the manufacturing sector showed overall improvement. Apart from sluggish exports, the gauges for supply, total demand, and employment were all in expansionary territory."

Capital Economics said: "While doom and gloom builds around China’s growth, PMIs for August provided some encouragement this week, even if they didn’t paint a picture of booming commodities demand.

"They suggest infrastructure spending has begun to support metals demand and that activity in the oil-intensive transport sector remains robust."

On the downside, Admiral fell after FTSE 250 peer Direct Line said it was reviewing cases where it charged existing motor and home insurance customers higher prices for policy renewal than for new customers, in a move that could cost it £30m.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,808.50p 10.95%
BP (BP.) 499.85p 2.53%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,149.50p 2.33%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,983.50p 2.28%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 523.00p 2.03%
Glencore (GLEN) 430.00p 2.03%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,472.50p 1.69%
Shell (SHEL) 2,449.00p 1.56%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 2,213.00p 1.33%
Centrica (CNA) 153.60p 1.22%