LONDON (ShareCast) - Homeserve was trading higher after a reassuring trading statement that revealed trading in its busy winter period had been "good" and in line with its full-year targets. Management was also pleased with levels of customer growth across the international businesses, having reported good customer number growth in its February trading statement.
Monks Investment Trust was boosted by news that manager Baillie Gerald Smith would be replaced, as the global fund seeks to turnaround a period of poor performance. Charles Plowden, the Citywire A-rated manager of Baillie Gifford's Global Alpha Growth fund, has become the £900m fund's new manager following a review by the trust's board and the Edinburgh-based investment group.

Card Factory continued to surge in line with Thursday's gain, rebounding from a disappointing dividend on Wednesday, where investors were left wanting for a special dividend.

Supergroup reversed after soaring on Thursday on the announcement it would begin paying dividends, with an interim payout in its 2015-16 financial year and had repurchased its North American rights.

Oil stocks tumbled as oil prices reversed, bringing the short lived surge in prices to a close. Tullow Oil, Premier Oil and Nostrum Oil & Gas were all in the red.

Miners Lonmin, BlackRock World Mining Trust and Kaz Minerals were among the fallers as metal prices weakened.



Risers
Just Eat (JE.) 422.10p +3.28%
Rank Group (RNK) 189.40p +2.66%
Betfair Group (BET) 2,282.00p +2.52%
Workspace Group (WKP) 874.50p +2.40%
Balfour Beatty (BBY) 240.70p +2.38%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 490.60p +2.08%
Homeserve (HSV) 370.60p +2.07%
Monks Inv Trust (MNKS) 428.00p +2.03%
Card Factory (CARD) 298.10p +1.98%
Grafton Group Units (GFTU) 795.50p +1.86%

Fallers
Lonmin (LMI) 121.30p -6.26%
Supergroup (SGP) 938.00p -5.35%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 294.70p -4.41%
Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 206.60p -4.22%
Drax Group (DRX) 365.80p -3.89%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 295.60p -3.40%
AA (AA.) 417.10p -3.40%
Premier Oil (PMO) 141.20p -3.35%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 590.00p -3.28%
Telecom Plus (TEP) 951.50p -2.76%

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