News of Chinese stimulus helps support the FTSE 100 as investors await the outcome of today's crunch vote on Brexit later.
Theresa May's draft deal is widely expected to be voted down. The FTSE 100 is currently 0.2% higher at 6,867.15, though the more domestic-facing FTSE 250 reverses earlier gains to trade 0.2% lower.
House builder Persimmon (PSN) dips 1% to £22.07 as it guides for annual profit to be 'modestly' ahead of current market expectations, as higher home completions and selling prices boost revenue.
Online retailer Boohoo (BOO:AIM) reverses 2.9% to 189p, despite it upgrading its full-year sales guidance, as investors focused on a narrowing of its margin guidance. Boohoo shares have also enjoyed a good run in the two weeks leading up to this sales update.
Sub-prime lender Provident Financial (PFG) tumbles 18.5% to 527p as it reveals annual profits will come in at the lower end of expectations, amid a rise in impairments at its Vanquis Bank credit card business.
Recruitment group Hays (HAS) adds 0.9% to 142.9p as it reveals its second-quarter net fee income has been bolstered by growth in its international businesses.
Asset manager Ashmore (ASHM) slips 2.5% to 369.3p even as its second-quarter assets under management were buoyed by net inflows, offsetting a negative investment performance.
Real estate adviser Savills (SVS) sheds 2.5% to 745.5p, despite the company forecasting growth in both annual revenue and underlying profits following a 'robust' closing quarter.
Communications technology group Spirent Communications (SPT) rallies 9.6% to 137.2p as it expects to exceed market expectations with around a 30% rise in annual operating profit.
Student accommodation specialist Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) gains 2.3% to 218p as it posts a rise in annual profits 'slightly ahead' of its previous expectations, driven by strong student accommodation sales.
Fantasy miniatures firm Games Workshop (GAW) loses 1.3% to £31.10 as it boosts its first-half profit by around 7% but reports disappointing online sales.
Housing and care sector support services provider Mears (MER) drops 5.8% as it announces trading in 2018 met its expectations in a 'competitive' environment but says debt will come in slightly higher than its £110m year end target.
