(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors - UK) After a spell out of the spotlight, Greece returned to the spotlight, though this time the news was good for markets.
An agreement on debt relief, admittedly written in pencil on soluble paper, lifted European markets and, to a lesser extent, UK shares too, especially banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (LON:RBS), Standard Chartered PLC (LON:STAN) and HSBC Holdings PLC (LON:HSBA).
Energy shares also boosted the Footsie, as the price of oil made another attempt at hurdling $50 a barrel. Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LON:RDSB) and BP PLC (LON:BP.) both rose more than 2%.
The FTSE 100 ended up 44 points firmer at 6,283. In contrast, Aim's leading shares were mixed, with the Aim 100 share up just two points at 3,449, while the FTSE Aim All-Share inched up a quarter of a point to 733.5.
Investors got a taste for Sweett Group PLC (LON:CSG) as the controversial civil engineering consultancy approved a takeover bid from WSP Global. The shares soared 11.5p, or 50%, to 34.5p.
Sweett got a 2.25mln fine in February after admitting allegations that it bribed officials in the United Arab Emirates in 2010. It has since pulled out of the Middle East.
In the UK, it works with organisations such as Network Rail and Transport for London on station upgrades, network enhancements, maintenance and depots.
WSP said the deal would help it expand in the UK and give it project and cost management services expertise.
Investors saluted the financial update from Independent Resources plc (LON:IRG), which finished 29% higher at 0.07p as it more than halved its debt, by 305,000 to 230,000.
The company is developing a major oil prospect in Tunisia and a big underground gas storage scheme in north-east Italy.
Eurasia Mining plc (LON:EUA) was wanted, rising 13% to 0.65p as it took the eminently sensible move to out-source the mining at its West Kytlim alluvial platinum deposit in the Urals to local Russian firm SKR.
Eurasia will receive 30% of total sales revenue generated from production, which will allow it to focus on other licences in Russia, notably the much larger Monchetundra deposit.
A trading update and strategic review from Gable Holdings Inc (LON:GAH) lopped a quarter of the value off the insurance company.
Following receipt of new information, a 6 million provision against an ATE insurance policy receivable will significantly affect the 2015 results, the company revealed.
Also hitting the skids was minerals exploration company Nyota Minerals Limited (LON:NYO), which plunged 19% to 0.12p as Jonathan Morley-Kirk, Andrew Wright and Sergii Budkin all got voted onto the board, while former chief executive Richard Chase and former technical consultant Dr Evan Kirby resigned, as did Mike Langoulant.
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