FTSE 100 movers: Profit swing not enough to prevent BA fall

29th Oct 2010 14:01

British Airways is the biggest faller even though it swung back into profit in the six months to September 2010. The airline improved yields and cut costs. It made a pre-tax profit of £158m compared to a loss of £292m in the same period last year. Revenue jumped 8% to £4.45bn.Xstrata is the sector's worst performer after its subsidiary, Xstrata Zinc, said the Queensland Government had approved the expansion of the George Fisher mine, which will grow production by almost 30% from 2013. Rio Tinto is also lower after its subsidiary successfully tendered for $1.91bn out of the $2.5bn outstanding 5.875 per cent Notes due for repayment on 15 July 2013. A total of $2bn of five-year, 10-year and 30-year bonds have been issued at lower interest rates. Scottish & Southern Energy is higher after it announced a 9.4% increase in gas prices in December. Royal Dutch Shell is rising following yesterday's strong third quarter figures. FTSE 100 - RisersScottish & Southern Energy (SSE) 1,146.00p +2.78%Centrica (CNA) 329.90p +2.52%Aviva (AV.) 401.20p +2.16%Severn Trent (SVT) 1,394.00p +1.90%United Utilities Group (UU.) 614.00p +1.74%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 68.91p +1.49%Investec (INVP) 498.70p +1.32%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 1,986.50p +1.25%Prudential (PRU) 638.00p +1.19%Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,185.00p +1.11%FTSE 100 - FallersBritish Airways (BAY) 272.60p -2.89%Xstrata (XTA) 1,227.50p -1.80%Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,035.50p -1.71%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 550.50p -1.70%BAE Systems (BA.) 342.70p -1.64%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,197.00p -1.40%Schroders (Non-Voting) (SDRC) 1,259.00p -1.33%Invensys (ISYS) 289.40p -1.26%G4S (GFS) 263.20p -1.24%Vodafone Group (VOD) 168.60p -1.23%