The FTSE 100 opens down 14.18 points to 7287.11 as North Korea and US tensions continue to weigh on investor sentiment.

Roadside assistance giant AA (AA.) loses 2.1% to 164.2p with its results for the first six months to 31 July in line with expectations. Despite growing its operating profits by 35% to 178m, the company’s interim dividend remained flat at 3.6p on a year-on-year basis.

Irn-Bru and Lipton Ice Tea maker AG Barr (BAG) gains 2p to 616.5p as it announces an 8.8% revenue hike to £136.6m in the first half to 31 July. The company also increases its interim dividend by 5% to 3.71p.

Card Factory (CARD) sheds 13% to 308.95p despite seeing strong revenue growth for the six months to 31 July. The company’s revenues are up 6.1% to 179.6m on year-on-year basis but its operating profits are down by 13.9% to £24.6m.

Chief executive Karen Hubbard attributes the reduction in profits to foreign exchange rates, national living wage and ‘some important investments’.

Merchant bank Close Brothers (CGB) is down 6.1% to £14.26 after reporting its year end results to 31 July. The company enjoyed a 13% increase in adjusted operating profit to £264.8m and a return on equity of 17.9%.

Publishing house Informa (INF) is down 4.75p to 665.75p as it announces the acquisition of Dove Medical Press.

On the AIM market, software company Netcall (NET:AIM) advances 6.2% to 51.5p despite a 2.9% decline in pre-tax profits to £1.68m for its year ending 30 June.

CEO Henrik Bang says: ‘We are pleased with progress in the year which was in line with our strategy of positioning the business towards the high-growth cloud market’.

Small cap oil and gas producer Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG:AIM) gains 12.8% to 71.63p on announcing successful flow tests and first production gas from Logbaba well La-10

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Issue Date: 26 Sep 2017