LONDON (ShareCast) - Shares in Next slumped as the fashion retailer took a cautious view of the outlook for the 2015-2016 financial year, saying some of its collections are "not as strong as they were at this point last year".
Tobacco stocks such as British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco Group were among the worst performers on Wednesday's news that Bloomberg and Bill Gates were launching a fund to help governments in legal battles against the tobacco industry. "Country leaders who are trying to protect their citizens should not be deterred by threats from huge tobacco companies," Gates said.

Bankers St James' Place and Hargreaves Lansdown were trading lower in the wake of ISA reforms announced in George Osborne's Budget. Tax-free ISAs will be made more flexible, while a new 'Help to Buy' ISA will help first time buyers save for homes, who will receive a £50 top up for every £200 they save. UBS believes the previous day's reaction in the asset gatherer's shares to that news was "exaggerated". The Swiss broker reiterated its sell recommendation.

Aviva was trading higher after Credit Suisse added the stock to its focus list.

Mexican silver miner Fresnillo led the risers, with other miners Randgold Resources, BHP Billiton and Antofagasata also trading higher. The stock was reacting to the rise in the price of gold in the wake of the Fed's policy meeting last night.

Diageo rebounded from falls made in Wednesday's session, as it announced plans to display alcoholic content and nutritional information on product packaging as soon as possible, according to an emailed statement.

Risers

Fresnillo (FRES) 672.00p +4.35%
Sports Direct International (SPD) 651.00p +1.72%
Friends Life Group Limited (FLG) 431.40p +1.70%
British Land Co (BLND) 863.00p +1.65%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,752.00p +1.65%
Aviva (AV.) 564.50p +1.62%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,479.50p +1.47%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 691.00p +1.39%
Hammerson (HMSO) 682.50p +1.34%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 205.50p +1.18%

Fallers
British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,648.00p -3.90%
Next (NXT) 7,340.00p -3.67%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,050.50p -1.78%
Diageo (DGE) 1,923.00p -1.59%
Meggitt (MGGT) 578.50p -1.53%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,191.00p -1.24%
Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 3,162.00p -1.22%
Unilever (ULVR) 2,891.00p -1.20%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,347.00p -0.96%
St James's Place (STJ) 969.00p -0.92%

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