LONDON (ShareCast) - Ian Gordon at Investec attributed the rally in Lloyds' share price to the Bank of England's Liabilities Survey.

He said: "It's not that it contains surprising news, but de facto confirmation of improving capital metrics, improving retail deposits and (significant) declines in funding volumes/requirements is all helpful and will cause some to revisit Net Interest Margin forecasts with (further) upside potential."

Fellow banks HSBC and RBS were also higher. The latter today said that it plans to dispose of some of its Chicago-area operations. The company's Citizens Financial Group will sell its Charter One branches, small business operations and select middle market relationships located in Chicago to US Bancorp.

International Consolidated Airlines Group, more widely known as IAG, climbed after it said that group traffic increased by an impressive 10.6% year-on-year in December, helped by strong growth at British Airways. The airline group said revenue passenger kilometres totalled 15,025m last month, up from 13,591m in December 2012.

Equipment rental firm Ashtead climbed after Jefferies raised its target price from 880p to 900p and kept a 'buy' recommendation, citing the company's significant growth potential in the US.

Meanwhile, a number of miners tracked metal prices lower, with Fresnillo registering the biggest decline.

Severn Trent was hit by a downgrade by JPMorgan Cazenove to 'underweight'.

Anglo-Dutch information group Reed Elsevier fell. It this morning named Centrica's Nick Luff as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).


FTSE 100 - Risers
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 82.81p +3.37%
Aviva (AV.) 455.80p +2.89%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 425.60p +2.80%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,798.00p +2.51%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 673.10p +1.98%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 350.80p +1.89%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 979.50p +1.87%
Old Mutual (OML) 193.30p +1.84%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 803.00p +1.65%
Standard Life (SL.) 365.90p +1.61%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Fresnillo (FRES) 713.00p -3.06%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 1,053.00p -2.32%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,457.00p -2.28%
Severn Trent (SVT) 1,667.00p -2.17%
Royal Mail (RMG) 561.50p -1.84%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,480.00p -1.66%
Rexam (REX) 507.00p -1.65%
Experian (EXPN) 1,105.00p -1.34%
Next (NXT) 6,090.00p -1.30%
Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,318.00p -1.24%

NR

Email this article to a friend

or share it with one of these popular networks:

• DIGG
• FACEBOOK
• STUMBLEUPON
• MIXX
• YAHOO BUZZ
• DELICIOUS
• REDDIT
• NEWSVINE