(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) As indices hit new highs on the other side of the Atlantic UK investors had to make do with a plucky but failed attempt by the Footsie to regain 6600.
Health-related stocks and house builders were a drag on the top-share index with Shire and Smith & Nephew weakest among the former and () () and () all hitting the low spots among the latter.
Nevertheless the FTSE 100 index scrambled 21 points higher on the day to 6598 despite the Office for National Statistics paring its growth estimates for UK gross domestic product (GDP).
As the Christmas shopping frenzy continues unabated supermarkets () () and 's () were back in favour as were oil stocks such as () and Weir () as the price of crude pushed higher.
Among the small caps ( ASX:FTE) was showing strength up 37%. The firm expects to reveal a significant increase in uranium resources in its Slovakian joint venture.
Venn Life Sciences () jumped 10% higher. In a short trading update it said it is on track to at least double last year’s revenues of €2.04mln after reporting that November was a record month.
() perked up adding 7.5% as its appeal against the shock cancellation of a mining lease received strong support from its major partner on the project.
Shangdong Electric Power Company (SEPCO) Oracle’s engineering procurement and construction (EPC) partner on the block VI mining lease of the Thar coalfield in Sindh Pakistan is offering full backing to Oracle’s appeal against the decision.
On the downside posh chocolate maker is off 22% after a profit warning. The company has been caught in the crossfire of the price war of the supermarkets with the grocery chains cutting back on orders and switching to stocking cheaper brands.
Power solutions provider () slumped 20% as it said operations in Libya remain suspended pending final parliamentary ratification of the contract addendum that was signed by the customer and the Ministry of Electricity in July 2014.
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