The FTSE 100 makes healthy gains this morning, up 0.45% to 7,410.96, as North Korean tensions ease a little over the weekend.
Shares in insurance companies also recover some ground after Inga Beale, the chief of the Lloyd's of London insurance market, issued reassurance over the impact of Hurricane Irma. Analysts have pointed to insured losses of up to £150bn from the storm which made landfall in Florida over the weekend. Beazley (BEZ) is up 4.4% to 470.7p and Lancashire (LRE) gains 4.2% to 636.5p.
Topping the FTSE 100 leaderboard is pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN). The stock continues to recover from the failure of a key drug trial in July as it announces successful results from trials of new lung cancer treatments. Its shares are up 2.5% to £49.09.
Conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) dips 0.6% to £32.40 despite guiding for group operating profit to be 'well ahead' of its previous financial year. The improvement is driven by its Primark retail operation and sugar business. Profit in its agriculture and grocery businesses is expected to be down.
Value brands business UP Global Sourcing (UPGS) warns of no growth in revenue for the July 2018 financial year. Its shares crash 24.2% to 159.25p.
Diamond miner Petra Diamonds (PDL) falls 21% to 71.1p as the Tanzanian authorities have blocked the export of a parcel of diamonds from its Williamson mine and are questioning key personnel from the mine. Petra has not been informed of the grounds upon which this action has been taken.
North Sea oil explorer Jersey Oil & Gas (JOG:AIM) reveals a disappointing result for its Verbier well, drilled in partnership with Norwegian firm Statoil. News the well is likely to be 'plugged and abandoned' sees the shares collapse 83% to 37.5p.
