FTSE 100 movers: Hargreaves jumps on results; BT goes ex-div
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 7,257.89 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Hargreaves Lansdown surged as it reported a rise in annual profit and assets under administration following a "particularly strong" second half and apologised to clients who have been hit by the recent Woodford fund issues.
In the year to the end of June, pre-tax profit increased 5% to £305.8m, with revenue up 7% to £480.5m and assets under management 8% higher at £99.3bn. The company had a record 1.22 million active clients, up by 133,000 during the year and the total dividend was lifted 5% to 42p a share.
UAE-based healthcare operator NMC Health was in the green as it issued a statement to reassure investors following the recent slump in its share price, insisting that it was trading in line with management expectations and backing its full-year guidance.
The company said that following a "good" performance in the first half of the year, the business remains in line with management expectations on all key metrics including revenue, EBITDA, net income, leverage, cash flow conversion and working capital.
BAE Systems was higher as it said finance director Peter Lynas was heading for the exit, to be succeeded by Brad Greve, the current financial controller of Schlumberger's wells business.
BT Group, Direct Line, Rio Tinto, Diageo, Fresnillo, Barclays and Lloyds were all weaker as their stock went ex-dividend.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,998.50p 9.03%
NMC Health (NMC) 2,123.00p 6.15%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 766.20p 4.96%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 851.60p 3.22%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,448.00p 3.03%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,841.80p 2.79%
Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,121.50p 2.79%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 329.10p 2.75%
Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX) 692.70p 2.70%
BAE Systems (BA.) 567.80p 2.60%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
BT Group (BT.A) 174.60p -5.31%
Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) 252.20p -3.22%
Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 299.20p -2.51%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 2,764.00p -2.33%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,103.00p -2.19%
Diageo (DGE) 3,328.50p -1.49%
Fresnillo (FRES) 672.00p -1.29%
Barclays (BARC) 145.68p -1.26%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 49.66p -1.15%
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 534.40p -0.93%