Archived article
Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
UK stocks reverse course in late trading on Tuesday as the US delayed introducing 10% tariffs on some holiday-shopping items, sending global markets surging.
At 1645 the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 31 points or 0.4% at 7,257.
LARGE-CAP GAINERS & LOSERS
Travel company TUI ended flat at 810p, erasing the day's gains after posting a 55% fall in third-quarter profit owing to lower consumer confidence, sapped by Brexit, and the grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft.
TUI at least stuck to its full-year earnings guidance, dousing fears of yet another downgrade, and said it had agreed to sell two German specialist businesses -- Berge & Meer and Boomerang -- for an enterprise value of €96m to €106m, including a €10m earn-out.
NMC Health recovered from heavy intraday losses to close down 1% at £18.91, stemming its losses over the last week.
MID- & SMALL-CAP MOVERS
Online broking house Plus500 rallied 20% to 687p, even as it booked a 56% fall in first-half profit.
The company launched a $50m share buyback and said its performance had improved during the second quarter as choppier market conditions increased trading opportunities.
Sensor system provider Transense Technologies closed up 16% at 70.5p on news that it had sealed a plum supply agreement with tire company Bridgestone.
Auto dealer Marshall Motor Holdings advanced 1.1% to 140p after raising its dividend by a third, despite reporting a 9% fall in first-half profit.
Greeting cards retailer Card Factory reversed early gains, dropping 3.5% to 156p, despite posting positive like-for-like sales growth in the first half of the year.
Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland eventually finished up 0.4% at 285p after swinging between positive and minus territory all day, despite growing revenue by 18% in its first quarter.
Water and climate-management product manufacturer Polypipe shed 1.8% to 396p as it posted a reasonably modest 4.3% rise in first-half profit.
Aviation services group John Menzies descended 3.3% to 401p after it revealed a first-half loss, citing a loss of business in the second half, weak cargo volumes and the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.
Newspaper and magazine distributor Connect shed 1.6% to 37p on warning that its overall trading performance was 'slightly below' market expectations.