FTSE 100 movers: RBS rallies on results; Standard Life loses the will
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.8% to 7,254.86 in afternoon trade on Friday as investors mulled better-than-expected domestic retail sales data.
Coca-Cola fizzed higher following heavy losses a day earlier after its full-year results.
Tesco was in the green as it said the new IFRS16 accounting standard will have no economic impact on the company.
Royal Bank of Scotland gained after saying it doubled profits last year and declaring a special payout on top of an ordinary dividend. Operating profit before tax was up 6% on the prior year at £3.4bn and 6% ahead of the average City analyst's forecast. Attributable profit of £1.62bn was more than double the £752m from the year before and higher than £1.58bn that analysts expected.
Lloyds Banking Group has appointed Morgan Stanley banker William Chalmers as its chief financial officer, succeeding George Culmer, whose plan to retire in the third quarter of 2019 was announced back in October.
Chalmers is currently co-head of the Global Financial Institutions Group of Morgan Stanley, having joined in 2000, advising financial institutions in the UK, Europe and Asia.
On the downside, investment manager Standard Life Aberdeen was under the cosh as it emerged that Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation sold its entire stake in the company for around £349.3m.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Melrose Industries (MRO) 168.15p 4.44%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 2,559.00p 3.90%
Evraz (EVR) 538.60p 3.54%
Tesco (TSCO) 224.70p 3.12%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 526.40p 2.81%
Glencore (GLEN) 303.90p 2.29%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 246.60p 2.07%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 58.52p 1.95%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 661.60p 1.82%
Prudential (PRU) 1,544.00p 1.78%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) 233.50p -6.06%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 890.60p -2.67%
Kingfisher (KGF) 228.80p -1.63%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,683.00p -1.20%
Sage Group (SGE) 655.40p -1.12%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 285.60p -1.01%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,332.00p -0.93%
Centrica (CNA) 138.17p -0.92%
National Grid (NG.) 841.80p -0.92%
Severn Trent (SVT) 1,947.00p -0.84%