London equities continue Friday's forward charge in early deals on Monday with consumer goods, airlines, mining and general financial outfits leading the way. Asian stocks were also firmly ahead overnight, while US markets are closed for President's Day.
The FTSE 100 index is roughly 90 points, or 1.6%, ahead at 5,798, with midcap and smaller company indexes also firmly on the front foot.
Consumer products giant Reckitt Benckiser (RB.) tops the FTSE 100 leader board up 5% to £62.64 on strong full-year results, showing excellent growth and margin expansion driven by its health, hygiene and home 'Powerbrand' portfolio. Fourth quarter organic sales rose 7%, ahead of the 4.4% consensus estimate, and there's an upbeat outlook statement from CEO Rakesh Kapoor, who flags positive progress with the company's cost savings plan.
British Airways owner, International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), is in hot pursuit, its shares up 4.5% at 501.25p.
Smart building infrastructure minnow Coms (COMS:AIM) jumps close on 30% to 1.55p after the company said group EBITDA (after central costs) from continuing operations for the financial year ended January is positive and will be ahead of management expectations.
Drug developer e-Therapeutics (ETX:AIM) plummets 31% to 18p as Phase II clinical trials of antidepressant ETS6103 fail.
In the oil space, Egdon Resources (EDR:AIM) is up 10% to 8.25p after saying it has started drilling operations at the Laughton-1 exploration well in Lincolnshire. The Laughton-1 well was spudded 12 February.
Pure-play online fashion retailer Boohoo.com (BOO:AIM) is bid up 3.2% to 40.25p on the £1.6 million acquisition of a property in Manchester. Located close to head office, the property will help to further the group's growth ambitions.
