Source: Sharecast
Imperial Brands shot up after it posted a 4.5% rise in full-year adjusted operating profit as revenues from new products such as vapes and nicotine pouches surged by more than a quarter.
BT Group was also higher after Bharti Global completed the acquisition of a 24.5% stake in the company from France’s Altice.
DCC was among the risers after The Telegraph said in its stock-picking column Questor that it was time to be less bearish on the sales, marketing and support services group.
DCC also got a boost as Jefferies hiked its price target on the buy-rated shares after the company announced last week that it was planning to simplify its operations and focus on the energy sector.
The price target was lifted to 7,950p from 7,600p.
Sainsbury’s was in the black as RBC Capital Markets started coverage of the stock at ‘outperform’ with a 300p price target.
"We are encouraged by its focus on its food offer, which we think could support further low single digit percentage market share gains in the medium term," it said.
Diploma slumped even as it reported a 14% rise in revenue in its preliminary results to £1.36bn, as adjusted operating profit increased 20% to £285m.
IAG was under the cosh after British Airways was hit by another IT failure.
Informa fell even as it reaffirmed its recently upgraded full-year guidance and said strong forward bookings were providing momentum into 2025.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,466.00p 2.71%
BT Group (BT.A) 147.90p 2.18%
British Land Company (BLND) 380.20p 1.82%
DCC (CDI) (DCC) 5,695.00p 1.79%
Croda International (CRDA) 3,502.00p 1.16%
National Grid (NG.) 983.20p 0.78%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 246.60p 0.65%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 9,979.00p 0.65%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 986.80p 0.63%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,265.50p 0.48%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Diploma (DPLM) 4,138.00p -8.77%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 508.20p -3.49%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 522.20p -3.15%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 237.20p -3.03%
Barclays (BARC) 254.65p -2.38%
Informa (INF) 836.80p -2.15%
CRH (CDI) (CRH) 7,704.00p -2.13%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 55.06p -2.10%
Schroders (SDR) 306.80p -2.04%
Weir Group (WEIR) 2,126.00p -1.85%