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Easyjet and Centrica lead FTSE 100 higher | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Shares in Easyjet flew 5.3% higher after analysts at Credit Suisse raised its rating on the airline to "outperform" from "neutral". | |
Shares in British Gas owner Centrica rose 3% following a report that it could be a bid target. | |
A report on the Wall Street Wires website said there was talk that the company had attracted the interest of a couple of potential buyers. | A report on the Wall Street Wires website said there was talk that the company had attracted the interest of a couple of potential buyers. |
The two companies pushed the FTSE 100 to close up 6.15 points at 7,343.43. | |
Royal Mail was the biggest FTSE 100 faller, down 3.3% at 410.3p | |
In the FTSE 250, shares in homewares retailer Dunelm rose 3.7% after it reported strong fourth quarter trading. | |
Total revenues for the 13 weeks to 1 July rose 17.7% to £340m, helped by the company's takeover of home improvement products retailer Worldstores. Like-for-like sales in the quarter were up 3.8%. | Total revenues for the 13 weeks to 1 July rose 17.7% to £340m, helped by the company's takeover of home improvement products retailer Worldstores. Like-for-like sales in the quarter were up 3.8%. |
However, Dunelm said it expected full-year pre-tax profits to be between £109m and £111m, down from £128.9m last year. | However, Dunelm said it expected full-year pre-tax profits to be between £109m and £111m, down from £128.9m last year. |
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.7% against the dollar to $1.2885 following the release of several weaker-than-expected pieces of economic data. | |
Office for National Statistics data showed that manufacturing and construction output fell in May, and the trade deficit widened. | Office for National Statistics data showed that manufacturing and construction output fell in May, and the trade deficit widened. |
Against the euro, sterling was down 0.4% at 1.1305 euros. |