Stock market analysis from The Share Centre
Graham Spooner, investment adviser from The Share Centre, comments on this week's market.
He said: " This week saw the market continuing to move towards recent highs. Mining and Utilities were behind much of the strength, with the latter boosted by corporate activity and the former seeing investors take advantage of recent weakness."
The UK Market's Winners and Losers
Winners
| Company | Percentage change | Closing price | Comment |
| ITV | 4.9% | 105p | Chairman announces intention to stay on. |
| Astrazeneca | 4.1% | 3502p | Boosted by forecast-beating numbers from European peers. |
| BHP Billiton | 2.2% | 1020p | Commodity prices increase. |
| Informa | 13.6% | 565p | Confirms that it is in merger talks. |
| Misys | 4.5% | 198p | New chief executive Mike Lawrie appointed. |
Losers
| Company | Percentage change | Closing price | Comment |
| British Energy | -19.9% | 446p | Warns that output will fall at two power stations due to cracks in boiler tubes. |
| Cadbury Schweppes | -3.4% | 538p | Share price hit as peer Nestle announces sales figures that fall short of expectations. |
| Wolfson Electronics | -36.4% | 279p | Warns that 4th quarter orders will be below par. |
| Benfield Group | -10.5% | 340p | Disappointing trading statement. |
| Partygaming | -15.2% | 28.5p | Announces that it will take a one-off charge of $250m to close down its US business. |
NOTE: The companies detailed above may or may not be the biggest percentage movers (plus/minus) on the day.
Mondays companies reporting:
- Interim Results:
Tristel.
Tuesdays companies reporting:
- Interim results:
Hitachi Capital, BP (Q3), Reckitt Benckiser (Q3), Whitbread. - Final Results:
Debenhams, Debts.co.uk. - Trading statements:
Carpetright.
Wednesdays companies reporting:
- Interim results:
Amvescap (Q3), Elan Corporation (Q3). - Trading statements
First Choice Holidays.
Thursdays companies reporting:
- Interim Results:
Blacks Leisure, Royal Dutch Shell (Q3), BAT (Q3), GlaxoSmithKline (Q3), Astrazeneca. - Final Results:
Arcadia. - Trading statements
Aviva.
Fridays companies reporting:
- Interim Results:
Clinphone, Shire (Q3). - Final Results:
MJ Gleeson. - Trading statements:
WPP (Q3).
Comments
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