(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) The FTSE 100 ended around 23 points higher at 6973 with paper maker Mondi () the second highest gainer.
Its shares went 2.76% higher to 1453p after it reported positive results yesterday and received upbeat analyst comment today.
On Thursday heavyweight upped its target price for the shares by 145p to 1630p with an ‘outperform’ rating. Deutsche raised its share price forecast by 130p today to 1640p.
The biggest gainer up 3.03% was 3i group () after it completed its restructuring and upped its total return for shareholders to 20% from 16%.
Sentiment was thought to have been affected by BoE governor Mark Carney's comments yesterday not least after the downgrade to UK growth.
He also said a referendum on the UK membership of the EU should take place ‘soon’.
Travel company and soon to be former owner of Thomson TUI AG (LON:TUI) slipped again today - 0.91% to 1196p - as it was one of a number of companies to trade ex-dividend.
The company announced yesterday it was to scrap the Thomson brand while also hiving off First Choice and LateRooms.
In small caps higher graphite grades at StratMin Resources’ () Loharano mine will lift the project’s profitability managing director Manoli Yannaghas said. Shares jumped 10.26%.
Elsewhere () is set for work to kick off again at the Jebel Abyad phospate block in Sudan as it advances towards drill testing. Shares rocketed 21.43% to 0.085p.
() went 10.71% higher to 15.5p as members of the North York Moors National Park Authority will decide the fate of its York Potash project after the planning officers left the recommendation ‘open’.
() added 23.81% to 0.26p after it said its ValiSeek joint venture with Tangent Reprofiling had received notice that a US patent covering the composition of its cancer treatment VAL401 had been granted
Meanwhile () sank 24% to 0.475p after it said it is considering a share placing to raise between £3mln and £5mln to pay for drilling and exploration work
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