Sector movers: Mobile telecoms, healthcare stocks rise as results impress

6th Feb 2014 14:02

The mobile telecoms and healthcare categories were putting in decent performances on Thursday in London after results from sector heavyweights Vodafone and Smith & Nephew impressed.Vodafone gained 2.4% in afternoon trade after revenues declined by a less-than-expected 3.6% in the third quarter to £10.98bn, ahead of the £10.86bn that analysts were expecting as ongoing weakness in Europe was offset by a strong performance in emerging markets.Chief Executive Vittorio Colao also said he was optimistic that sales trends would begin to improve.Others in the mobile telecoms sector including Monitise, Mobile Tornado and Inmarsat were also trading higher today.Medical equipment manufacturer Smith & Nephew also beat analysts' forecasts as it registered a strong end to 2013 with underlying revenue growth picking up in the fourth quarter. The stock rose 2.1%.The company, which is the largest maker of artificial hips and knees in Europe, reported underlying revenues in the three months to December 31st rose by 6% to $1.18bn, compared with 5% growth the preceding quarter and better than the $1.16bn estimate.Surgical Innovations, Immunodiagnostic Systems and Deltex Medical rose in sympathy.Top performing sectors so far todayMobile Telecommunications 5,165.04 +2.82%Household Goods & Home Construction 11,271.24 +2.39%Automobiles & Parts 9,235.36 +1.78%Health Care Equipment & Services 5,004.14 +1.77%Personal Goods 23,908.93 +1.34%Bottom performing sectors so far todayForestry & Paper 10,049.68 -0.69%Chemicals 10,614.94 -0.34%Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 11,941.94 -0.32%BC