(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) The FTSE 100 finished flat - at 0.09% higher - as investors digested mixed data from around the world.
That included UK retail sales (higher) Chinese manufacturing (negative) and US manufacturing stats (a fall).
FTSE100 closed at 7013 - up 0.09% or 6.21 points with fund manager () the biggest gainer up 2.19%.
Mining stocks were given a boost by the Australian Treasury as it stated the country will not conduct an inquiry into the iron ore market.
(ON:FRES) climbed 0.26% to 761p while mining giant () also benefitted rising 0.23% to 2873.5p.
Meanwhile housebuilder () shed 4.07% to 184p as it traded ex-dividend.
The big news away from Footsie was that food wholesaler () which added 11.84% to 170p as it announced it is to buy Budgens and Londis owner Musgrave Retail Partners GB Limited for £40mln.
Convenience store chain Londis and grocery chain Budgens will join incumbent brands Premier and Family Shopper which are already owned by the UK’s largest cash-and-carry chain. Shares jumped 11% to 168p.
Elsewhere on the FTSE 250 shares in () advanced after the defence technology specialist beat analyst estimates with a rise in profit.
The company whose products include bomb disposal robots reported a 7% rise in underlying profit for 2015 to £107mln.
In small caps it has been a good morning for tech companies as () joined Phoenix in making a big gain.
Concurrent a specialist in the design and manufacture of mission critical computer products said first half revenues will be ahead of expectations.
Directors used the word ‘exceptional’ when describing the year the company is having likely bringing a smile to shareholder’s faces.
Revenues are expected to far exceed the £5.6mln recorded in the first half of 2014. Shares in Concurrent added 13.79% to 49.5p.
Elsewhere () revealed it was boosted by an increase of sales and prices as production and grades slipped.
Carats recovered in the first four months of 2015 were 8% lower while grades slipped 3%.
There was good news as the company known for uncovering monstrous sized diamonds was able to sell almost 36000 carats at a value of US$77mln an uptick of 14% on the previous quarter. Shares added 0.17% to 149.5p.
The Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is proposing to pay 735p per share to take over (). ENOC is already Dragon’s largest shareholder with 53.9% of the company.
Dragon which is being advised by City broker Nomura in a statement told investors that its independent committee was now considering the offer. Dragon shares added 5.43% to 680p.
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