London pre-open: Renewed assault on 6,000

7th Feb 2011 07:38

Footsie looks set to have another crack at breaking through the 6,000 barrier with City traders predicting the blue-chip index will open around 12 points firmer at 6,009.AstraZeneca's run of disappointing drug development results has continued with the early end to a trial of prostate cancer treatment zibotentan.Gold miner Randgold Resources shrugged off operational and political setbacks in 2010 to post a sharp increase in profit, helped by the increase in the price of gold. Profit before income tax and financing activities for 2010 rose to $136.14m from $113.76m in 2009. Randgold Resources' group production for 2011 is forecast to be between 750,000 and 790,000 ounces, which represents an increase of more than 70% on the preceding year. Property developer St Modwen Properties is confident about the future after making an annual profit for the first time since 2007. The company posted a profit before tax of £37.5m for the 12 months to 30 November compared with a £119.4m loss in 2009 and £73.1m deficit the year before that.Housebuilder Bellway has been encouraged by the pick up in site visits and reservations in 2011 following the cold snap in December. The group said it sold 2,332 homes in the six months to end-January, an increase of 85 on the corresponding period a year earlier. The average sales price over the period rose to £168,000 from £155,871 a year earlier, largely as a result of selling more traditional two storey homes and fewer flats.