London midday: FTSE 100 still struggling to recover

25th May 2011 12:02

The top share index is seeking direction amid continued uncertainty following the slide on Monday.Fashion retailer Next and B&Q owner Kingfisher are among the worst performers. Following suit is new kid on the block Glencore, which is under the weather on its debut on the top-share index.On the FTSE 250, Cable & Wireless Communications has taken a tumble after the results from its first year of independence. Earnings remained virtually static at the telecoms group, largely as a result of a more difficult Caribbean market than expected.Valerie Gooding, the former chief executive of health insurance firm BUPA, is to be the new chairman of Premier Farnell, the electronic and industrial components distributor. Share are off the mark this morning.Stockbroker and investment manager Brewin Dolphin is wanted after profits came in roughly in line with expectations at the interim stage.Specialist healthcare company BTG is lower after it swung to a pre-tax loss during the year ended 31 March, despite revenue rising by 13.1%, as the group reported a 44% rise in operating expenses.Engineering software firm Aveva has taken a hit despite registering record revenues in the year ended 31 March, helped by a strong performance in the emerging markets, mainly driven by growth in the oil and gas sector.Elsewhere, corporate travel services firm Hogg Robinson is a high riser after revealing a 36% increase in annual pre-tax profit, a 25% hike in the dividend, and saying that trading this year has been strong than previous years.JJB Sports is suffering again after the troubled sports retailer extended its losses in 2010 and said turning the company around would take up to five years. The firm made a pre-tax loss of £181.4m on revenues of £362.9m in the 52 weeks to the end of January 2011.Online dating company Cupid has won over investors as it reported trading ahead of expectations since early March. The company, whose websites include flirt.com and benaughty.com, has enjoyed strong growth outside the UK, with more than half of revenues now coming from overseas. North America is performing "exceptionally well" while the UK remains strong. The shares are up by a quarter.FTSE 100 - RisersBarclays (BARC) 270.65p +1.90%Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,218.00p +1.84%3i Group (III) 288.30p +1.55%Rexam (REX) 385.60p +1.55%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 50.49p +1.51%ITV (ITV) 69.05p +1.40%Aggreko (AGK) 1,793.00p +1.36%Cairn Energy (CNE) 441.40p +1.28%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,583.50p +1.09%Man Group (EMG) 239.00p +1.01%FTSE 100 - FallersNext (NXT) 2,183.00p -2.89%International Power (IPR) 314.20p -1.87%Amec (AMEC) 1,142.00p -1.72%SABMiller (SAB) 2,182.50p -1.27%ARM Holdings (ARM) 549.50p -1.17%Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 306.10p -1.07%British American Tobacco (BATS) 2,692.50p -0.96%National Grid (NG.) 619.00p -0.88%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,331.00p -0.82%Lonmin (LMI) 1,482.00p -0.80%FTSE 250 - RisersSoco International (SIA) 382.00p +4.06%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 44.15p +3.98%Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) 170.80p +2.89%Invensys (ISYS) 301.20p +2.76%Pace (PIC) 105.50p +2.63%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 79.00p +2.60%PZ Cussons (PZC) 341.30p +2.16%London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 923.00p +1.65%Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 192.90p +1.53%Atkins (WS) (ATK) 800.00p +1.52%FTSE 250 - FallersCable & Wireless Communications (CWC) 42.92p -10.58%Sports Direct International (SPD) 216.20p -4.97%Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 282.10p -3.95%Premier Farnell (PFL) 290.40p -3.33%Aveva Group (AVV) 1,526.00p -2.86%Chemring Group (CHG) 651.50p -2.62%Kofax (KFX) 463.00p -2.53%HICL Infrastructure Company Ltd. (HICL) 117.30p -2.41%Dignity (DTY) 756.00p -2.14%Domino's Pizza UK & IRL (DOM) 376.10p -2.06%---RG