FTSE 100 movers: Whitbread pushes FTSE higher

19th Jun 2012 15:40

Forecast-beating like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in its first quarter saw shares of Whitbread jump during Tuesday's session. The Premier Inn and Costa Coffee owner reported that LFL sales increased by 4.5%, better than expectations of a 3.0% improvement. Engineering group Weir was also making impressive gains after reiterating its full-year forecast at its capital markets presentation today. Jefferies has said that this implies the reconfirmation of the pre-tax profit guidance of £470m "which would in theory be equivalent to a 4% upgrade versus Bloomberg consensus forecasts". Miners were also proving popular as investors sought riskier assets, as investors continue to react positively to the G20 pledge to 'take all necessary measures to safeguard the integrity and stability' of the Eurozone. Eurasian Natural Resources, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Vedanta and Kazakhmys all making strong gains by late afternoon. Household cleaning and cosmetic firm Unilever was unwanted, along with sweeteners giant Tate & Lyle and bread manufacturer AB Foods. FTSE 100 - RisersWhitbread (WTB) 1,959.00p +5.95%Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC) 434.60p +4.95%Weir Group (WEIR) 1,504.00p +4.66%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 245.50p +4.33%BG Group (BG.) 1,284.00p +4.31%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,079.00p +3.93%Vedanta Resources (VED) 976.00p +3.83%Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,113.00p +3.73%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 741.00p +3.56%ARM Holdings (ARM) 508.00p +3.55%FTSE 100 - FallersTate & Lyle (TATE) 639.00p -1.16%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 276.00p -1.04%Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,579.00p -0.62%Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,222.00p -0.57%Unilever (ULVR) 2,077.00p -0.48%Diageo (DGE) 1,595.50p -0.41%Serco Group (SRP) 548.00p 0.00%National Grid (NG.) 654.00p +0.08%International Power (IPR) 417.00p +0.10%Rexam (REX) 407.60p +0.12%NR