Source: Sharecast
Entain was the top gainer ahead of a trading update on Thursday and as Peel Hunt upgraded the Ladbrokes owner to ‘buy’ from ‘add’.
The broker said fundamentals at BetMGM - Entain’s joint venture with MGM Resorts - remain strong but the first quarter was slightly weak, with investment focused on higher return opportunities.
Peel Hunt updated its forecasts for Entain, lifting its 2026/27 adjusted EBITDA estimates by 2%/5% and cutting its earnings per share estimates by 15%/8%. The broker said the key UK and US businesses are well placed strategically and it expects cash generation to accelerate into 2027.
"We expect more evidence of strategic progress with Entain’s 1Q26, due tomorrow, 16 April, trading update," Peel said.
Barratt Redrow also rose as it reiterated guidance but warned that war in the Middle East was making visibility beyond the current year more uncertain.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The conflict in Iran and the implications it has for inflation and interest rates have shaken the foundations of the housebuilding sector, so there will be a modicum of relief after Barratt Redrow’s third-quarter update.
"The company is sticking with guidance, albeit for a financial year which ends in a matter of weeks. Demand is holding up for now, with sales rates ticking higher and the order book in reasonable shape, but the company’s decision to materially scale back land purchases feels instructive as it reacts to limited forward visibility.
"There is a sober acknowledgement that inflationary pressures are likely to be felt more acutely through the course of 2026.
"While it may owe much to the timing of remediation payments, investors will be pleased to see a higher-than-expected cash buffer expected at Barratt by the year end."
Antofagasta rallied in tandem with copper prices and following a production update.
Standard Life rose as it agreed to buy the UK business of Dutch insurer Aegon for £2bn.
Burberry Group was under the cosh following disappointing first-quarter updates from Gucci owner Kering and Hermes, both of which fell sharply.
Imperial Brands was lower after a downgrade to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ by UBS, which cut the price target to 3,150p from 3,500p as it pointed to limited near-term catalysts and the fact it has outperformed its tobacco peers over the last four years.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Entain (ENT) 578.00p 3.80%
Barratt Redrow (BTRW) 264.80p 2.48%
Convatec Group (CTEC) 243.60p 2.44%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 3,964.00p 2.30%
ICG (ICG) 1,754.00p 1.62%
Autotrader Group (AUTO) 487.60p 1.46%
3i Group (III) 2,810.00p 1.43%
The Sage Group (SGE) 859.00p 1.23%
Standard Life (SDLF) 720.40p 1.18%
Pearson (PSON) 1,041.00p 1.17%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,139.40p -2.41%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,869.50p -1.88%
Airtel Africa (AAF) 366.60p -1.66%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,293.20p -1.51%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,849.00p -1.33%
Fresnillo (FRES) 3,655.00p -1.33%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 4,385.00p -1.08%
Bunzl (BNZL) 2,286.00p -0.99%
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (DI) (CCEP) 7,140.00p -0.97%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 142.20p -0.87%