BP Share News (BP.)

Smiths Group is the best performer today following the revelation that it turned down a £2.45bn bid for its medical division from private equity firm Apax. Credit Suisse had previously estimated the medical division was worth £2.1bn. Even so, Smiths did not want to pursue talks at the indicative bid level. There is speculation that other bidders may appear. Medical devices supplier Smith & Nephew continues to rise on the back of rumours of a bid from Johnson & Johnson. BP is higher following the announcement of a controversial landmark deal with Rosneft, the Russian state oil company, in the Arctic. BP has also been awarded four deepwater blocks off the coast of South Australia.Vodafone has moved upwards ahead of expected news of the sale of its 44% stake in French mobile operator SFR. That could raise more than £6bn. S&P Equity Research has downgraded software supplier Autonomy from buy to hold. A tightening of Chinese monetary policy has pushed miners lower. FTSE 100 - Risers Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,378.00p +7.49%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 715.50p +4.45%GKN (GKN) 230.30p +3.74%Capita Group (CPI) 716.50p +2.72%BAE Systems (BA.) 352.80p +1.76%Vodafone Group (VOD) 174.95p +1.74%Essar Energy (ESSR) 559.50p +1.73%Reed Elsevier (REL) 556.50p +1.55%BP (BP.) 507.10p +1.52%TUI Travel (TT.) 268.30p +1.48%FTSE 100 - Fallers Autonomy Corporation (AU.) 1,490.00p -3.43%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,441.00p -3.42%Schroders (Non-Voting) (SDRC) 1,428.00p -3.19%Schroders (SDR) 1,834.00p -2.76%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 67.98p -2.34%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 107.60p -2.18%Investec (INVP) 520.50p -1.98%Old Mutual (OML) 126.20p -1.87%Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,369.00p -1.51%Barclays (BARC) 306.35p -1.50%