The FTSE 100 starts the week in positive fashion, up 0.45% to 7,592.71 ahead of crunch mid-week trade talks between the US and China.

Security firm G4S (GFS) falls 1.6% to 248.4p as the government assumes control of Birmingham Prison from the company after a report reveals several major failings.

Luxury handbag retailer Mulberry (MUL:AIM) slumps 26.2% to 420p as it warns annual profits could be 'materially reduced' by tough trading conditions.

The company also says it expected to book a £3m charge in its first-half results arising from the collapse of House of Fraser and its subsequent acquisition by Sports Direct.

Mulberry says it operated 21 House of Fraser concessions, employing 88 people across the UK as part of its global store and digital network.

Private healthcare operator NMC Health (NMC) posts a 19% rise in first-half profit as it generates more revenue from its hospitals in the Middle East and margins expand. Net profit for the six months through June increase to $116.7m, on revenue up 20% to $932m.

The shares respond to the positive numbers, rising 5.7% to £42.90.

Software firm Sage (SGE) falls 6.6% to 622p as investment bank Deutsche Bank downgrades its recommendation on the stock from 'hold' to 'sell' and cuts its price target from 630p to 540p.

Estate agency group Countrywide (CWD) gains 1.7% to 14.85p as it backtracks on a generous incentive plan for management as it continues an emergency overhaul of the group’s balance sheet.

Oil producer Premier Oil (PMO) says it and partner Dana Petroleum had made a final investment decision on the Tolmount Main gas field in the North Sea.

The field was expected to produce around 500bn standard cubic feet of gas, with peak production of up to 300m standard cubic feet per day.

Premier's share of the capex required to develop the field was estimated at $120m, comprising project management and development drilling costs.

The project will now move into execution phase, with construction works scheduled to start later this year. First gas is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2020. Shares in Premier are up 1.7% to 117.2p.

Oil services firm Wood Group (WG.) secures a six-year contract with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) to provide asset management services to the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project in the Philippines.

Wood says it would provide maintenance services, modifications and shutdown support as part of the contract, which covered Shell's onshore facilities in Batangas and offshore assets in the Malampaya field, near Palawan Island.

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Issue Date: 20 Aug 2018