LONDON (ShareCast) - Life assurance behemoth Standard Life leapt into the top spot after it saw profits rise in the first half after a strong performance in the UK, its biggest market. Operating profit before tax was up 15 per cent with assets under administration three per cent higher than the year before.

United Utilities was putting in an impressive performance today on the back of rumours that overseas investor from Canada and the Middle-Easy are eyeing up the company as a break-up candidate. Sector peers Severn Trent and Pennon were also wanted.

Anglo-Swedish drugs colossus AstraZeneca raised earnings guidance a tad after signing a deal with US pharmaceuticals titan Pfizer, pushing shares higher.

Meanwhile, building materials group CRH dropped after poor weather and tough economic conditions in Europe saw earnings slip in the first half of the year. EBITDA fell 1% year-on-year in the six months to June 30th, more or less in line with the company's guidance in May of "close to last year's level".


FTSE 100 - Risers
Standard Life (SL.) 275.50p +7.32%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 727.50p +5.59%
Pennon Group (PNN) 763.00p +3.74%
Severn Trent (SVT) 1,755.00p +2.75%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,365.50p +2.40%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 356.80p +1.94%
Prudential (PRU) 820.50p +1.93%
ITV (ITV) 84.60p +1.87%
Tesco (TSCO) 334.75p +1.72%
GKN (GKN) 218.70p +1.63%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
CRH (CRH) 1,131.00p -7.22%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,160.00p -1.91%
Kingfisher (KGF) 284.70p -1.45%
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,542.00p -1.41%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 966.00p -1.13%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,177.00p -0.83%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 220.70p -0.76%
Aviva (AV.) 320.70p -0.68%
Kazakhmys (KAZ) 733.50p -0.68%
Tate & Lyle (TATE) 660.00p -0.68%

NR

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