Sector movers: Centrica lifts utility sector despite brush-off

21st Aug 2009 11:11

Centrica is among the stocks lifting the gas, water and multi-utilities sector higher.The energy company shares are higher even though the Aberdeen-based oil and gas firm urged its shareholders to reject Centrica's 845p-a-share offer for the group. National Grid is the best performer in the sector.The software & computer services sector is in the red after good gains yesterday that came as Autonomy said Autonomy Scrittura, its flagship product for automating critical trade-related processes, is now powered by Autonomy's Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL). The company claimed the integration would prove a boon to capital markets institutions, 'allowing them to meet the increasingly rigorous compliance requirements in the derivatives industry.'Autonomy, one of the top gainers in the sector yesterday, is the top faller. Sage, which followed Autonomy higher yesterday, is lower in sympathy.Intuit, a major US rival to accounting software firm Sage Group, announced a net loss of $70.7m for the three months to 31 July yesterday but, perhaps more importantly from the perspective of a Sage shareholder, it painted a gloomy picture of prospects for this year and next.Top performing sectors so far todayLife Insurance 3,548.08 +2.32%Forestry & Paper 3,050.45 +2.28%Beverages 6,830.09 +2.21%Gas, Water & Multiutilities 3,565.30 +1.84%Electricity 6,293.24 +1.61%Bottom performing sectors so far todayMobile Telecommunications 2,992.13 -0.53%Software & Computer Services 517.88 -0.48%Automobiles & Parts 2,723.85 -0.43%Personal Goods 8,409.12 -0.14%Industrial Metals 4,652.40 -0.01%