London open: Footsie struggling to pass 6,000

4th Jul 2011 08:33

The top share index has got off to an indecisive start, edging higher but failing to breach the 6,000 point barrier.Among the risers is Essar Energy, the India-focused integrated energy company. It said the general meeting to rubber stamp its proposed acquisition of the oil refinery and other associated assets at Stanlow, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, will be held in London on 18 July. Shares in John Wood Group, which today announced the admission of new shares, are sharply lower.Newspaper distributor John Menzies is a high-flyer today. It said it is on track to exceed expectations for the full year after seeing the positive start to the year continue. The company said its aviation division has experienced "increased contract win momentum and generally positive trading."South West Water owner Pennon is to build a new plant to generate energy from waste in Exeter. The 'Energy from Waste' plant will process 60,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year and will require Pennon to stump up £45.6m in capital investment.Animal genetics company Genus is feeling bullish about its full-year results, as the markets in which it operates have remained generally favourable. The company should post improved profits in line with market expectations, and strong cash generation.FTSE 100 - RisersEssar Energy (ESSR) 421.30p +1.27%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 626.00p +1.13%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,485.00p +0.95%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,263.00p +0.88%Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,018.00p +0.85%Experian (EXPN) 807.50p +0.75%SABMiller (SAB) 2,282.50p +0.75%Pearson (PSON) 1,185.00p +0.68%Wolseley (WOS) 2,078.00p +0.68%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 679.00p +0.67%FTSE 100 - FallersJohn Wood Group (WG.) 700.50p -17.70%Barclays (BARC) 260.95p -1.73%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 39.02p -1.69%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 50.15p -1.30%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,653.00p -1.14%Admiral Group (ADM) 1,655.00p -1.08%Aviva (AV.) 442.00p -0.96%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 118.90p -0.92%HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 624.60p -0.72%Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,510.00p -0.49%FTSE 250 - RisersPremier Foods (PFD) 17.70p +3.63%Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 1,165.00p +2.28%Lamprell (LAM) 395.40p +2.25%Ocado Group (OCDO) 191.80p +2.08%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 67.00p +1.98%London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 1,051.00p +1.74%Premier Oil (PMO) 450.60p +1.72%AZ Electronic Materials SA (WI) (AZEM) 316.00p +1.71%Genus (GNS) 1,057.00p +1.63%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 458.70p +1.57%FTSE 250 - FallersSports Direct International (SPD) 230.60p -3.92%Telecom Plus (TEP) 668.00p -3.12%Laird (LRD) 198.00p -2.46%Computacenter (CCC) 469.10p -2.27%Dixons Retail (DXNS) 16.45p -1.56%Kier Group (KIE) 1,363.00p -1.16%Betfair Group (BET) 762.00p -1.10%St James's Place (STJ) 349.90p -1.02%COLT Group SA (COLT) 142.00p -0.98%Supergroup (SGP) 850.50p -0.93%