FTSE 100 movers: Hammerson leads the risers on strong results

17th Feb 2014 14:59

Hammerson is in the top spot today, after it this morning reported a rise in annual profits, driven by strong demand for retail property. The property group posted pre-tax profit for the year ended December 31st 2013 of £341.2m, up from £142.2m the previous year, as like-for-like net rental income climbed 2.1% to £282.8m. During the period the group secured £24m of new rents, compared to £19m in 2012. The firm achieved occupancy of 97.7%, exceeding the benchmark of 97%. The final dividend was raised 8% to 10.8p per share.Both Imperial Tobacco Group and British American Tobacco were performing strongly after the latter today began a TV advertising campaign for its new e-cigarette. Imperial is due to launch its own version later this year. RSA Insurance was also charging higher following a report out over the weekend from the Financial Times that said the company is set to raise up to £350m in an emergency share sale that would avoid a rights issue. The group's shares have suffered since it was revealed accounting problems in Ireland had resulted in a huge hole in its balance sheet.IMI shares climbed following the company's confirmation of a share capital consolidation taking place today.Vodafone Group was given a lift by broker Jefferies, which upped its target price from 216p to 238p. Meanwhile, Aberdeen Asset Management shares declined following Goldman Sachs's decision to reduce its target price from 600p to 540p. William Hill declined after it was widely reported the betting group plans to find a new Chief Executive to replace Ralph Topping a year early. Headhunter Zygos has been appointed to find a new external candidate for the job, according to The Times. SSE was also one of today's fallers, with a prediction published by The Motley Fool warning the company could be "forced to cut their dividends over the next eighteen months" helping to push the stock lower. According to Roland Head, "the high level of SSE's 6.4% prospective yield provides a clear warning that the firm's payout might be unsustainable". FTSE 100 - RisersHammerson (HMSO) 562.00p +3.40%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 351.70p +2.66%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,359.00p +2.57%British Land Co (BLND) 679.50p +2.26%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 97.95p +2.19%Vodafone Group (VOD) 223.10p +2.15%IMI (IMI) 1,525.00p +2.09%BT Group (BT.A) 404.60p +2.04%British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,108.00p +2.00%InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 2,043.00p +2.00%FTSE 100 - FallersAberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 394.70p -1.67%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,016.00p -0.88%Mondi (MNDI) 1,024.00p -0.39%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 444.90p -0.34%SSE (SSE) 1,385.00p -0.29%Centrica (CNA) 317.80p -0.13%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 657.00p -0.08%William Hill (WMH) 347.00p -0.03%NR