London's FTSE 100 struggles to join in with the Trump rally on Thursday, nudging 0.81 points higher to 7,165.2, a meagre gain given the Dow Jones has broken through the 20,000 level barrier.
In corporate news, Magnum ice creams-to-Marmite supplier Unilever (ULVR) cheapens 4.1% to £32.13 on weaker-than-expected fourth quarter organic sales growth of 2.2%, hurt by slowing emerging markets growth. CEO Paul Polman also expects 'a slow start' to 2017, with 'growth improving as the year progresses.
However investors toast alcoholic drinks giant Diageo (DGE), bid up 91.5p (4.3%) to £22.33 on better-than-expected first half results with organic volume growth of 4.4% ahead of expectations of 3.1%. Trading highlights included a better peformance in the Johnnie Walker whisky-to-Smirnoff vodka producer's US spirits businesss and across its scotch portfolio.
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) rises 1.9% to 231.8p despite revealing it is setting aside another £3.1bn to settle claims it mis-sold mortgage backed securities in the US before the financial crisis and is going to record a ninth consecutive annual loss. The shares nudge higher as investors decide things might not be as bad as feared and there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
Luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo (CHOO) is on the front foot with a 3.8% gain at 157p after reporting another year of record sales for the year to December. This reflects strong growth in Asia, solid growth in Europe and Japan and improving trends in its US retail business,. There's also a positive outlook statement, with Jimmy Choo seeing improving trends across all regions.
Investors greet budget cards-to-gifts retailer Card Factory (CARD) warmly, the shares improving 4.1% to 254p on news it delivered a good Christmas, a scenario flagged by Shares here. Encouragingly, the cash generative retailer's like-for-like store sales returned to growth in the fourth quarter in the face of a tough prior year comparative.
Platinum producer Lonmin (LMI) loses some of its lustre, off 12.2% to 155.25p on a disappointing first quarter production update.
CMC Markets (CMCX) is marked down 2p to 112p after reporting a decline in third quarter revenue per client and as CEO Peter Cruddas concedes 'the regulatory changes that will be implemented later in the year will undoubtedly present the group with some short- to medium-term challenges as clients and the industry adjust'.
