FTSE 100 movers: Next charges higher after strong trading report

3rd Jan 2014 15:15

Shares in Next rose to the top of the leaderboard today after the home and clothing retailer raised its full-year profit forecast after achieving a rise in fourth-quarter sales ahead of the UK retailer's expectations. The group also declared a 50p special dividend. Giving the group a further lift, Nomura upgraded its rating on the stock from 'neutral' to 'buy', saying that it has shown 'consistent execution'.Sector peer Marks & Spencer also climbed strongly as the positive report helped High Street stocks in general recover following a profit warning from Debenhams earlier in the week. CRH was also rising, one day after Albert Manifold began his new role as Chief Executive, taking over from Myles Lee, who has stepped down after 32 years at the helm of the building materials group.Meanwhile, mining stocks were mixed after the worsening data from China, with Glencore Xstrata trading firmly lower. Sector peers Rio Tinto and Anglo American had declined this morning, but are sitting firmly in positive territory this afternoon, helped by rising metal prices. Asset management group Schroders benefitted from comments by Barclays Capital analysts who have highlighted potential improving flows for UK asset managers, saying that stocks will benefit from a bullish outlook for 2014.However, sector peer Aberdeen was notably at the opposite end of the index. FTSE 100 - RisersNext (NXT) 6,100.00p +10.31%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 448.00p +4.84%CRH (CRH) 1,578.00p +2.53%TUI Travel (TT.) 413.60p +2.17%Sage Group (SGE) 402.10p +2.03%Standard Life (SL.) 361.40p +1.86%Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 373.70p +1.71%William Hill (WMH) 405.00p +1.68%Schroders (SDR) 2,648.00p +1.65%Hammerson (HMSO) 498.40p +1.63%FTSE 100 - FallersPearson (PSON) 1,324.00p -1.19%Glencore Xstrata (GLEN) 306.90p -1.16%Mondi (MNDI) 1,033.00p -1.15%Rexam (REX) 514.00p -0.77%Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,460.00p -0.75%Antofagasta (ANTO) 816.50p -0.67%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 486.90p -0.63%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,339.50p -0.59%Ashtead Group (AHT) 779.00p -0.57%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,332.00p -0.51%NR