FTSE 100 movers: Pearson pops higher but CRH hit by HeidelbergCement warning
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.1% to 7,063.52 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Pearson was the standout gainer a day after the release of the education publisher’s nine-month results, as Morgan Stanley upped its price target on the stock to 845p from 785p. It rates the stock at ‘equalweight’.
GVC Holdings was a high riser after it said revenue growth accelerated in the third quarter of its financial year as the owner of bookmaker Ladbrokes and various online gaming brands gained market share in all major territories.
Nicholas Hyett, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "GVC continues to demonstrate why it’s our favourite bookie, churning out solid growth and impressive odds setting - with a helping hand from the World Cup."
Building materials group CRH was the worst performer after German giant HeidelbergCement cut its profit outlook, and as JPMorgan Cazenove said it expects Q3 2018 to be another lacklustre quarter for the European building materials sector with consensus expectations likely to be revised down yet again.
Diversified engineer Smiths Group was on the back foot as its stock went ex-dividend.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Pearson (PSON) 867.00p 3.78%
GVC Holdings (GVC) 950.50p 2.26%
Informa (INF) 734.60p 2.26%
British Land Company (BLND) 584.80p 2.24%
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,526.80p 2.17%
Diageo (DGE) 2,622.50p 2.08%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 250.60p 2.06%
WPP (WPP) 1,048.00p 1.90%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 4,270.00p 1.74%
Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 6,690.00p 1.59%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
CRH (CRH) 2,246.00p -3.06%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,303.00p -2.21%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 779.20p -2.01%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,564.00p -1.91%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,648.80p -1.67%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,030.00p -1.66%
Ferguson (FERG) 5,418.00p -1.53%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 551.80p -1.52%
ITV (ITV) 155.15p -1.46%
Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) 266.85p -1.39%