LONDON (ShareCast) - Zoopla, the residential property website group, topped the risers after agreeing to acquire utility price comparison site uSwitch for up to £190m. Zoopla said it expected the deal to be "significantly enhancing" to adjusted basic earnings per share in the first full financial year following completion.
Moneysupermarket was trading higher after posting a 25% rise in headline quarterly revenue thanks to strong personal loans and credit card applications. Investec analysts gave a 'buy' recommendation and said: "We like MONY growth, platform/data investment and the focus on customer retention/cross-selling beyond 'mere price comparison'."

Countrywide rebounded from Wednesday's losses, which were driven by declining revenue in the first quarter, a result of challenging market conditions, the property group said.

Home Retail Group continued gaining on Wednesday's results, where full-year profits beat expectations as like-for-like sales and profit growth from Argos and Homebase delivered for a second consecutive year.

Shares in RPS Group dropped sharply after the industrial consultancy outfit said the continuing volatility in the oil and gas sector meant its energy business had a slower-than-expected start to the year.

James Fisher dipped after warning that first-half results would be lower than last year, as its offshore oil arm suffered a "slow start" to 2015. However, the industrial support services group said it expected to see a stronger second half as performance improved at its Marine Services divisions.

Laundry services group Berendsen was in the red after first quarter sales fell 5%, due to strong currency headwinds and troubles in the UK with a hotel linen contract. Berendsen said its UK flat linen division suffered from contract issue from the group's hotel division.



Risers
Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 216.00p +16.76%
NMC Health (NMC) 761.00p +7.11%
COLT Group SA (COLT) 148.30p +3.13%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 365.80p +3.07%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 82.65p +2.86%
Rightmove (RMV) 3,169.00p +2.72%
Bellway (BWY) 1,994.00p +2.68%
Countrywide (CWD) 526.50p +2.43%
UBM (UBM) 560.00p +2.28%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 167.80p +2.19%

Fallers
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 142.20p -12.17%
RPS Group (RPS) 213.20p -9.70%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,180.00p -9.44%
Berendsen (BRSN) 1,027.00p -5.69%
Man Group (EMG) 194.00p -5.09%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 285.00p -3.91%
PayPoint (PAY) 851.00p -3.90%
Card Factory (CARD) 317.40p -3.85%
Booker Group (BOK) 145.00p -2.68%
National Express Group (NEX) 286.50p -2.55%

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