FTSE 100 movers: Intertek rises on acquisition; Ashtead hit by downgrade
London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1% to 7,504.37 in afternoon trade on Wednesday as investors continued to digest the latest UK jobs data.
Intertek was among the risers as the quality assurance provider acquired US-based security certification solutions provider Acumen Security for an undisclosed consideration.
Equipment hire firm Ashtead was on the back foot, however, after Citi cut the stock to 'neutral' on valuation grounds.
Centrica was under pressure following a sharp rally in the previous session. Shares in the British Gas owner surged on Tuesday as gas prices jumped after an explosion at a natural gas facility near Austria's border with Slovakia and as Britain's Forties pipeline - which carries 40% of North Sea oil and gas - was closed for repair due to a crack.
Other utilities followed suit, with SSE, Severn Trent and United Utilities also weaker.
Tour operator TUI was in the doldrums despite saying it expects at least 10% earnings growth in 2018 as it reported solid results for last year. Underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation rose 12% to €1.1bn (£970m) in the year to the end of September. The result was marginally ahead of an earlier prediction of an increase of at least 10%. The company said it expects earnings to rise by at least 10% in the current year.
Risers
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,673.50p 3.24%
Tesco (TSCO) 209.59p 1.92%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 770.90p 1.82%
3i Group (III) 891.00p 1.77%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 5,100.00p 1.39%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 237.64p 1.30%
Schroders (SDR) 3,475.00p 1.28%
BAE Systems (BA.) 561.75p 1.13%
Relx plc (REL) 1,734.00p 1.11%
Barclays (BARC) 202.75p 1.07%
Fallers
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,977.00p -4.03%
Centrica (CNA) 141.92p -1.99%
Aviva (AV.) 504.25p -1.51%
SSE (SSE) 1,306.00p -1.36%
Severn Trent (SVT) 2,092.00p -1.32%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,391.00p -1.28%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 814.50p -1.15%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,465.00p -1.01%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,299.00p -0.99%
Carnival (CCL) 4,860.00p -0.80%