The FTSE 100 is recouping some of yesterday's losses, up 29.33 points at 6,847.37, after US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton was seen as having bested her wildcard opponent Donald Trump in the first campaign debate overnight,
Plumbing products specialist Wolseley (WOS) falls 4.6% to £41.01. The firm points to 'uncertainty in the economic outlook' alongside its prelims and announces 800 job cuts in its UK business as it launches an overhaul in the face of increased competition.
Travel agent Thomas Cook (TCG) gains 3.7% to 72.6p as a pre-close update reveals earnings will hit forecasts. The company also predicts strong demand for most of its destinations apart from a turbulent Turkey. Peer TUI AG (TUI) is up 1.7% to £10.89 in its wake.
Online fashion retailer Boohoo.com (BOO:AIM) is broadly flat at 97.5p as the company lifts its sales guidance for the third time in three months alongside interim results. The company now expects revenue growth for the full year of 30-35%, the lack of market reaction reflects the priced for perfection rating and perhaps some concern over a modest decline in margins.
Merchant bank Close Brothers (CBG) gains 3.3% to £14.58 as investors focus on a 4% increase in full year pre-tax profit rather than warnings of 'more challenging conditions'.
Digital audio channels outfit Immedia (IME:AIM) is up 33.9% to 41.5p as it announces a three year contract with a major UK retailer. The company, led by former Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes, says more information about the new contract will be announced when client confidentiality is lifted.
Budget gifts-to-greetings cards purveyor Card Factory (CARD) clips ahead 3.8% to 313.5p on interims demonstrating further sales and profit growth despite softer high street footfall. Investors also cheer news the cash generative retailer will return £51.1 million to shareholders via a special dividend, on top of a 12% hike in the ordinary half-time payout to 2.8p.
