London pre-open: Shares to rise

15th Apr 2010 07:33

London's leading shares are poised to begin with good gains, with traders eyeing a 22 point rise in opening deals.McBride, which makes personal care products for supermarkets to sell under their own label, has appointed an executive from the food and household goods giant Unilever as its new chief executive. Chris Bull, the chief customer officer for Unilever, will take up the reins at McBride from May 4.Credit checking firm Experian saw revenues from continuing operations rise for the six months to March but revenues at its UK operations fell in the period. At constant exchange rates, total revenue in UK and Ireland declined 2%. Organic revenue also declined 2%, though total growth at actual exchange rates rose 6%. Overall revenue for the group, from continuing activities, increased 3% at constant exchange ratesEnergy efficiency company Eaga has been trading in line with expectations with its Carbon Services and Managed Services business segments performing well, offsetting the less favourable trading conditions in its Heating business.On the economic front, Consumer confidence fell at its sharpest rate since the beginning of the recession. The Nationwide's index of consumer sentiment fell to 72 in March from 81 in February.Amongst the papers, advertising group WPP would consider moving back to Britain if a new government reformed the taxation of overseas profits, its chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell said, according to the FT.Nestle is bringing its Jenny Craig weight-loss plan to the UK, challenging the dominance of market stalwart WeightWatchers, says the Telegraph.Lehman Brothers may have grounds to sue Goldman Sachs, Barclays and other firms that bought some of the collapsed bank's assets at a $1.2 billion discount, a court-appointed legal examiner said, reports the Times.