Hints of progress towards a trade agreement between China and the US helped put the FTSE 100 on course for a positive end to the week, up 0.6% to 7,160.22.
President Donald Trump tweeted that trade talks were ‘moving along nicely’ but investors will likely be wary. with several previous breakthroughs on this key issue ultimately proving illusory.
After the market close in the US Apple posted record quarterly profit but disappointed on the outlook for the festive period and fell short of expectations with iPhone sales.
Gambling company Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) advances 1.9% to £70.40 as it slightly upgrades its annual guidance, after a strong sales performance in its new US business in the third quarter offset weakness in UK retail and Australia.
British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) rose 1.4% to 626.4p as it bumped up its long-term earnings outlook for 2019-to-2023 to €7.2bn a year, up from previous guidance of €6.5bn.
Banking group Barclays (BARC) gains 1.5% to 178.2p on confirmation that former Rothschild deputy chairman Nigel Higgins will replace John McFarlane as the bank's chairman in 2019.
Broking house TP ICAP (TCAP) gains 2% to 294.1p as it reports 1% growth in revenue for the fourth months through October and says it has acquired energy and commodities brokerage Axiom for up to $29.1m.
Software company Sage Group (SGE) gains 3.1% to 566.8p as it appoints chief operating officer and former chief financial officer Steve Hare permanently to the role of chief executive.
Defence and aerospace engineering group Ultra Electronics (ULE) sells its airport systems business to ADB Safegate for £22m because it had little in common with the rest of its business. Ultra shares were flat at £14.36.
Recruitment consultancy Parity (PTY:AIM) tumbles 29% to 6.8p after it warns its full year profit will fall short of expectations, partly due to a delayed contract that is now expected to be downsized.
