The FTSE 100 opened 0.28% lower at 7,709.92 ahead of UK jobs data released later this morning.
Pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) gains 4.1% to £13.22 as a trading update reveals first half profit ahead of expectations on brisk sales. The company is more cautious on its second half citing the impact of rising labour costs, business rates and the sugar tax.
Accounting software business Sage (SGE) falls 4.6% to 783.4p with sales in its first quarter running slightly behind its 8% target at 6.3%. The group says it has invested 'heavily' in sales training to help accelerate towards its targeted level in the remainder of its financial year to 30 September.
Silver miner Fresnillo (FRES) reports record annual silver production in an update. Output was up 16.6% on the 2016 level as the firm enjoyed the first full year of its San Julian phase one development operating at full capacity and the start-up of operations on San Julian phase two. The shares are up 1.5% to £13.55.
Copper mining outfit Antofagasta (ANTO) slips 1.7% 950.4p as 2017 production of the industrial metal falls 0.7% to 704,300 tonnes. This was in line with guidance and reflected the impact of lower than expected grades at Los Pelambres and Centinela.
Mixer drinks specialist Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) continues its gravity-defying ascent - gaining 7.2% to £26.10 as a trading update reveals it has overtaken Schweppes to become the number one brand in the UK. Full year results are expected to be 'comfortably' ahead of expectations.
Investors react positively to the news the chief executive of estate agent Countrywide (CWD) is to step down after a recent profit warning. Following the resignation of Alison Platt, Peter Long is stepping up as executive chairman until a successor is found. The shares are ahead by 4% to 104p.
