LONDON (ShareCast) - The pharmaceuticals sector was given a shot in the arm after AstraZeneca triumphed its legal battle against two companies that want to market generic versions of its Seroquel schizophrenia treatment. Astra and its fellow drug giant GlaxoSmithKline were among the best performing companies in the FTSE 100.

General retailers and food retailers are down after Marks and Spencer’s first quarter UK like for like sales fell 5.3% and it warned that tough conditions are here to stay for two years. M&S lost more than 20% of its value and dragged down fellow clothes retailer Next and fellow food retailers J Sainsbury, Tesco and Wm Morrison.

Also in the retail sector, B&Q owner Kingfisher fell heavily after cement and aggregates supplier Ennstone issued a profit warning that alluded to the continued deterioration in the US market and recent sharp downturn in UK house building activity.

Top performing sectors so far today
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 7,357.10 +4.33%
Mobile Telecommunications 3,478.00 +3.49%
Fixed Line Telecommunications 2,746.40 +2.83%
Life Insurance 3,953.00 +2.48%

Bottom performing sectors so far today
General Retailers 1,154.90 -7.74%
Automobiles & Parts 3,132.40 -4.11%
Food & Drug Retailers 4,042.60 -3.92%
Electronic & Electrical Equipment 1,849.70 -3.14%

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