LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 7,458.27 in afternoon trade on Thursday as holiday mode kicked in ahead of the long Easter break.
Unilever gained as it reported stronger-than-expected growth for the first quarter of the year, driven by emerging markets and with an encouraging balance between increases in volume and price.

Underlying sales grew 3.1% in the first three months of the year, more than the 2.8% that analysts forecast and in line with management's guidance for revenue to be at the bottom end of the long-term 3-5% growth target.

Building materials group CRH was on the rise ahead of a trading update next Tuesday, while equipment rental firm Ashtead rallied following well-received results from US peer United Rentals, whose first-quarter earnings per share came in around 10% ahead of consensus overnight.

Rentokil was in the green as it reported a 4% rise in first-quarter organic revenue, driven by its pest control business and acquisitions and said full-year results should be in line with market expectations.

Ongoing revenue in the first quarter was up 8.9%, with 4% organic growth, up from 3.2% in the first quarter of 2018 and 3.7% for the full year, with 4.9% from acquisitions.

On the downside, BAE Systems was the top faller as it went ex-dividend along with Reckitt Benckiser.



FTSE 100 - Risers

Unilever (ULVR) 4,514.00p 3.11%
CRH (CRH) 2,619.00p 2.22%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 2,185.00p 1.96%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 373.80p 1.55%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 196.49p 1.54%
Experian (EXPN) 2,193.00p 1.53%
Fresnillo (FRES) 776.60p 1.52%
Bunzl (BNZL) 2,343.00p 1.25%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,594.00p 1.03%
Croda International (CRDA) 5,073.22p 0.98%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

BAE Systems (BA.) 492.40p -3.68%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,669.50p -2.02%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 555.00p -1.25%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 260.80p -0.95%
Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX) 713.90p -0.94%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,459.00p -0.92%
Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,639.00p -0.91%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 66.00p -0.86%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 5,866.00p -0.81%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 5,821.00p -0.80%

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