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London’s FTSE 100 was flat at 7,457.19 in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors weighed better-than-expected retail sales data against ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.
Smith & Nephew was the standout gainer as the artificial hip and knee maker said full-year revenue grew 4.4%, at the top end of the guidance range, but that its outlook will depend on the coronavirus.
NMC Health was up following heavy losses in the previous session, when Czech shareholder and activist investor Krupa Global Investments said it would not take a strategic stake in the UAE healthcare operator.
Lloyds gained even as the bank said underlying profit fell 7% last year as revenue declined in challenging conditions.
BAE Systems was in the green as it reported full-year earnings growth of 7%, in line with its own guidance, and forecast a rise in earnings in 2021 by mid-single digit, excluding the impact of recent US acquisitions.
DS Smith was a high riser after it said that the US Department of Justice had entered a consent decree to clear the completion of the sale of its plastics division to Liqui-Box Inc.
Anglo American rose after the miner said strong precious metals and iron prices offset weakness in diamonds and coal as it reported an increase in full-year profits.
On the downside, Imperial Brands, Carnival and GlaxoSmithKline fell as their stock went ex-dividend.
Meggitt was weaker after Credit Suisse cut its price target on the stock to 520p from 550p as it said the 737 MAX grounding lowered its 2020 margin expectations by 50 basis points.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,992.50p 7.99%
NMC Health (NMC) 836.80p 6.87%
Centrica (CNA) 77.24p 3.10%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 57.41p 2.92%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 360.40p 2.71%
BAE Systems (BA.) 655.60p 2.44%
Barclays (BARC) 180.66p 2.22%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,765.00p 1.95%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 210.00p 1.94%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,118.00p 1.44%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Imperial Brands (IMB) 1,722.40p -6.59%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,927.00p -4.27%
Aveva Group (AVV) 5,150.00p -2.65%
Meggitt (MGGT) 620.60p -2.61%
Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) 323.80p -1.94%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 2,811.00p -1.75%
Croda International (CRDA) 5,110.00p -1.45%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 5,398.00p -1.39%
Carnival (CCL) 3,074.00p -1.35%
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,656.00p -1.31%
