Search Share Prices
FTSE 100 movers: Banks on the up but Taylor Wimpey drops after update
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1% to 7,741.79 in afternoon trade on Wednesday, with banks leading the advance.
Banks were the standout gainers, with RBS up on the back of an upgrade to 'overweight' at Morgan Stanley.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered was lifted by an upgrade to 'neutral' at Redburn.
Retailer Marks & Spencer was on the front foot as it said that Humphrey Singer - currently group finance director at Dixons Carphone - will replace Helen Weir as chief finance officer. Weir, whose departure had already been announced, will be leaving the retailer at the end of March to pursue a portfolio career. M&S said Singer will take up his appointment on a date to be confirmed.
Sainsbury's gained after it said that following a solid Christmas trading period and a better-than-expected contribution from Argos, full year profits are now likely to beat the current consensus forecast.
On the downside, Taylor Wimpey was weaker, dragging peers Persimmon and Barratt Developments down with it, even as the housebuilder said 2017 results would be in line with forecasts, and that it expects to achieve further growth and performance improvement in 2018.
Paddy Power Betfair retreated after it appointed Dan Taylor to the newly-created role of chief executive officer of Europe and Barni Evans as CEO of its Australian operations, Sportsbet.
Risers
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 292.10p 4.14%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 823.60p 3.88%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 790.70p 3.18%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 2,250.00p 2.23%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 324.70p 2.01%
Prudential (PRU) 1,945.50p 1.97%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,708.60p 1.88%
3i Group (III) 935.00p 1.76%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 252.50p 1.65%
Carnival (CCL) 4,997.00p 1.57%
Fallers
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 199.75p -4.38%
Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 8,515.00p -3.24%
Persimmon (PSN) 2,645.00p -2.58%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 846.60p -2.33%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,149.00p -2.20%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 630.20p -2.05%
Mediclinic International (MDC) 623.40p -1.98%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,481.00p -1.76%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 652.60p -1.72%
Worldpay Group (WPG) 439.50p -1.70%