FTSE 100 movers: Reckitt Benkiser rises on results

8th Feb 2012 14:41

Moving into the afternoon trading session, Cillit Bang maker Reckitt Benckiser maintained its position as the leading riser among blue-chips. The consumer products group said it exceeded its full year targets in 2011, as it announced a strategy for 'continued out-performance'. Net revenue in 2011 rose to £9.49bn from £8.45bn the year before and just a tad higher than market expectations of £9.45bn. Miners were also providing a boost, tracking metals prices higher, putting Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto and Xstrata among the best performers. Rio Tinto also pleased its investors by committing a further $3.4bn to the expansion of its Pilbara iron ore operations in western Australia. "Today we are announcing another significant milestone in our drive towards a more than 50% increase in the size of iron ore operations in Western Australia," said Rio's Iron Ore and Australia Chief Executive Sam Walsh. Meanwhile, power generator International Power was heading south, despite seeing revenues and earnings rise 3% and 8% in the 2011. The company said its hook-up with French utility company GDF SUEZ Energy delivered synergies well ahead of target in 2011. Evraz was the biggest faller, hit by reports that Raiffeisen had cut the stock from buy to hold. FTSE 100 - RisersReckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 3,480.00p +2.90%Essar Energy (ESSR) 136.20p +2.64%Amec (AMEC) 1,073.00p +2.48%Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,019.00p +2.21%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 1,183.00p +1.98%Old Mutual (OML) 157.40p +1.81%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 35.81p +1.55%Xstrata (XTA) 1,218.50p +1.54%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,924.50p +1.42%Anglo American (AAL) 2,899.50p +0.92%FTSE 100 - FallersEvraz (EVR) 431.90p -2.94%International Power (IPR) 333.10p -2.80%Weir Group (WEIR) 2,000.00p -2.44%Sage Group (SGE) 296.50p -2.40%Admiral Group (ADM) 954.00p -1.95%Pearson (PSON) 1,178.00p -1.92%Carnival (CCL) 1,964.00p -1.75%CRH (CRH) 1,298.00p -1.59%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 775.50p -1.40%Reed Elsevier (REL) 524.00p -1.32%NR