FTSE 100 movers: Flutter boosted by broker notes; StanChart retreats

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.4% at 5,603.85 in afternoon trade on Thursday.

Flutter Entertainment was the standout gainer after positive broker notes from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Barclays.

Lloyds pushed higher as the bank reported better-than-expected third-quarter profits and lowered its bad loan provisions after a surge in new mortgage lending.

Royal Dutch Shell rallied after it unveiled a plan to increase dividends and cut debt as it swung to a small third quarter profit. The energy giant lifted its dividend by 4% quarter on quarter to 16.65 cents a share and reported a $177m profit on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, compared with a $18.4bn loss in the second quarter.

Online supermarket Ocado gained, most likely amid expectations that it would benefit from a second lockdown.

On the downside, engine maker Rolls-Royce retreated at its stock went ex-dividend.

Standard Chartered was weaker even after it posted a smaller-than-expected fall in third-quarter profit and lowered bad loan guidance as it considered a return to dividends at the full year stage.

Advertising company WPP fell even as it reported an improvement in third-quarter sales, with revenue less pass-through costs - which excludes the impact of acquisitions and disposals - down 7.6% in Q3 to £2.4bn compared to a 15.1% fall in the second quarter.

WPP also said that given the tightening of Covid restrictions around the world and uncertainty in the global economic outlook, it remains "cautious about the pace of recovery".

FTSE 100 - Risers

Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) 13,325.00p 8.47%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 28.73p 3.92%
Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 928.20p 3.13%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 891.30p 2.87%
NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P (NWG) 118.10p 2.38%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 2,361.00p 2.08%
Barclays (BARC) 105.94p 2.06%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 324.90p 1.85%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 3,941.00p 1.83%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,343.50p 1.82%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 75.70p -10.46%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 349.00p -6.61%
Informa (INF) 415.60p -1.98%
WPP (WPP) 604.60p -1.69%
BAE Systems (BA.) 407.20p -1.55%
Aviva (AV.) 257.30p -1.46%
Unilever (ULVR) 4,475.00p -1.45%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,786.50p -1.43%
Prudential (PRU) 946.00p -1.42%
Next (NXT) 6,048.00p -1.40%