FTSE 100 movers: Experian shines on results; housebuilders fall

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 6,050.47 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.

Experian was sitting pretty at the top of the index after it left its dividend unchanged as the information services company said the Covid-19 crisis and currency swings could reduce first-quarter revenue by up to 15%.

Reporting annual results the company held its second interim dividend at 32.5 cents a share taking the annual payout to 47 cents a share - up from 46.5 cents a year earlier.

Rolls-Royce gained, having fallen earlier after saying would cut at least 9,000 jobs as part of a plan to save more than £1.3bn a year in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The engine maker said the job cuts from its global workforce of 52,000 would mainly affect the civil aerospace business and that it would review the division's facilities.

Housebuilders were under the cosh, with traders pointing to comments from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who said on Tuesday that the UK is heading for a recession of unprecedented scale. Berkeley Group, Persimmon and Barratt were all lower.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Experian (EXPN) 2,724.00p 8.01%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 283.40p 5.90%
Rightmove (RMV) 527.00p 4.73%
DCC (DCC) 6,374.00p 4.15%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 2,017.00p 3.41%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 4,951.00p 2.97%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 2,322.00p 2.70%
Relx plc (REL) 1,886.50p 2.47%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 575.40p 2.38%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 498.60p 2.38%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Land Securities Group (LAND) 534.00p -5.02%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 138.35p -4.78%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,918.00p -4.39%
Persimmon (PSN) 2,110.00p -3.92%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 484.10p -3.83%
Whitbread (WTB) 2,840.00p -3.53%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,616.00p -3.18%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 198.65p -2.38%
ITV (ITV) 74.72p -2.33%
British Land Company (BLND) 347.40p -2.22%