AstraZeneca (AZN) is one of the top risers in early trading, seeing its share price rise by 3.6% to £49.16. The firm has made a breakthrough with its lung cancer drug treatment Imfinzi saying that it significantly reduces the risk of the disease worsening or leading to death.
Non-standard lender Provident Financial (PFG) interim management statement fails to quell fears over the future of its home credit business as it tops the list of fallers in early trading. It share price is down 59p to £32.06 as its home credit business continues to operate under interim permission and still awaits full authorisation.
Stobart (STOB) is also among the top risers as its share price rises by 2.75% to 242.5p. The firm released a strong set of financial results yesterday and today announces it is to purchase up to 3m of its own shares to satisfy its employees share awards.
Harbourvest Global Private Equity (HVPE) shares have dropped 15p to £12.67 as it releases its annual report. The market’s muted response to a strong set of year end results suggest it may have been expecting more than a 10% growth in the net asset value of its shares to $18.47.
Interserve (IRV) shares are broadly flat despite the company warning that its workflow may be impeded by the general election. This was balanced by news of a five year contract with Network Rail worth £65m.
The FTSE 100 seems to have recovered from the mixed messages received by the Bank of England yesterday and a poor performance in Wall Street. The index is up by around 15 points.
