FTSE 100 movers: Easyjet nose dives on strikes and currency headwinds, financials lower

Budget airline Easyjet led fallers despite meeting guidance and swinging to a small profit in the first half, warning it is likely to face tougher conditions in the latter part of the year. The company saw its shares sink after saying that exchange-rate movements and air traffic control strikes in France are expected to hit second-half results.

A host of financial stocks were also trading lower, including Hargreaves Lansdown, London Stock Exchange, Prudential, Admiral and Aberdeen Asset Management.

State-backed lender Lloyds Banking Group was in the red after the Government sold another 1% stake in the firm, reducing its holding to less than 20%.

Credit-checking outfit Experian was among the few risers on the FTSE 100 after returning to organic revenue growth in the fourth quarter. For the full year, total revenue from continuing activities grew 1% to $4.81bn, with profit before tax slightly above flat at $751m.

"Experian’s full-year results were slightly below expectations but the strategy looks to be on track with a return to organic revenue growth in Q4. Experian is executing strongly against a new strategic framework across five priority goals," Charles Stanley said following the release of the company's results.

Miners Randgold Resources and Fresnillo extended Monday's gains, tracking a rise in gold as the US dollar weakened, and general improvement in the fortunes of the base metals market.As of 14:08 front month gold futures were up by 0.93% to $1,194 per metric tonne on COMEX.

Risers

Fresnillo (FRES) 713.00p +1.64%
Experian (EXPN) 1,192.00p +1.27%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,760.00p +1.26%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 87.31p +0.82%

Fallers
easyJet (EZJ) 1,658.00p -9.55%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,189.00p -3.72%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 2,452.00p -3.35%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 435.10p -3.31%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 547.00p -3.19%
Kingfisher (KGF) 359.20p -3.08%
Old Mutual (OML) 225.80p -2.97%
Prudential (PRU) 1,600.50p -2.85%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,144.00p -2.80%
Aviva (AV.) 526.50p -2.68%