FTSE 100 movers: Sports Direct regains recent lost ground

16th Apr 2014 13:45

Sports Direct, IAG and Ashtead have all been under heavy selling pressure over the past week as investors took profits following some impressive gains over the last year. These stocks, however, were performing well today with Sports Direct the stand-out performer, rising more than 6% after Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised its target price and said that the market is underestimating the company's international and online growth prospects.Burberry was higher despite the high-end fashion brand warning of "material" currency headwinds this year, after the company reported 19% underlying revenue growth in the second half. However, it did say revenue in the second half had totalled £1,298m, up 19% on an underlying basis.Tesco profits fell for the first time in 20 years, but shares gained as the decline was not as bad as analysts predicted. A 6.7% fall in group trading profit to £3.32bn was still marginally ahead of consensus analyst forecasts of £3.24bn.Engineer Weir Group was also making gains despite the board of Finnish peer Metso rejecting its proposal to merge the two companies. Weir said it made an "attractive" offer and "there is no certainty that it will revise the terms of its proposal".Meanwhile, Hargreaves Lansdown erased earlier gains today, falling firmly into the red despite saying it amassed a record level of assets under administration and net inflows in the first three months of the year.Both BAE Systems and Melrose were notable fallers after going ex-dividend today. FTSE 100 - RisersSports Direct International (SPD) 790.50p +6.04%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 387.70p +3.06%Ashtead Group (AHT) 870.00p +2.90%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,460.00p +2.67%ITV (ITV) 178.20p +2.65%Tesco (TSCO) 293.40p +2.48%Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,753.00p +2.45%easyJet (EZJ) 1,643.00p +2.18%GKN (GKN) 382.00p +2.11%Experian (EXPN) 1,073.00p +2.00%FTSE 100 - FallersBAE Systems (BA.) 375.80p -4.11%Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,173.00p -3.14%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 365.10p -2.14%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 861.00p -1.20%Aggreko (AGK) 1,510.00p -1.18%Melrose Industries (MRO) 279.60p -1.03%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 92.15p -0.54%Royal Mail (RMG) 507.50p -0.49%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 200.00p -0.40%Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 280.00p -0.28%NR