FTSE 100 movers: Prudential in the red; Diageo fizzes higher
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.4% at 6,541.10 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Prudential shares tumbled after the insurer announced plans to separate its US business through a demerger and said it was considering raising $2.5bn to $3bn in new equity as it looks to increase its investor base in Asia.
It said an equity raising "would maintain and enhance the group’s financial flexibility in light of the breadth of the opportunities to invest in growth".
Heavily-shorted education publisher Pearson was also on the back foot, having rallied a day earlier in a short squeeze.
Going the other way, precious metals miner Fresnillo surged, having slumped on Wednesday after lowering its gold output forecast.
Drinks giant Diageo rallied after it increased its interim dividend as it reported first-half operating profit down 8.3% to £2.2bn.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 993.00p 7.47%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 147.70p 6.26%
Glencore (GLEN) 248.20p 4.37%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 170.60p 3.68%
Diageo (DGE) 2,954.50p 3.56%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 98.38p 3.38%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,432.00p 3.29%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 550.40p 3.23%
Kingfisher (KGF) 281.10p 2.52%
M&G (MNG) 182.05p 2.22%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Prudential (PRU) 1,232.00p -8.13%
Pearson (PSON) 806.20p -7.10%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,560.00p -3.29%
Pershing Square Holdings Ltd NPV (PSH) 2,415.00p -3.21%
Pennon Group (PNN) 940.60p -2.93%
Sage Group (SGE) 601.20p -2.81%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,740.00p -2.68%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 125.10p -2.40%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 624.80p -2.21%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 2,822.00p -2.12%