Intertek Group Share News (ITRK)

The FTSE 100 rallied in afternoon trade after some better-than-expected economic data from the States, pushing the index to new five-and-a-half-year highs.A strong surge so far this month has now lifted London's equity benchmark to within touching distance of the 2007 high of 6,751. The Footsie has now jumped around 280 points (or 4.6%) since the start of May, extending its year-to-date rise to around 14%.After a barrage of US data disappointed on Thursday - which showed rising jobless claims, falling housing starts and a negative reading of Philadelphia manufacturing - markets celebrated the release this afternoon of the University of Michigan consumer confidence index which surged past expectations of 77.9, rising to 83.7 in May from 76.4 the month before.Meanwhile, the Leading Indicators index, a composite index which combines 10 different surveys to forecast trends in the overall US economy, rose 0.6% in April after a 0.2% decline in March, better than the 0.2% increase forecast.Also helping the bullish mood on markets today was the news that JPMorgan has raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 from 1,580 to 1,715, after its strong performance so far in 2013. Over in Europe, France's CAC index breached 4,000 for the first time since July 2011, while the DAX in Germany continues to set fresh all-time highs.FTSE 100: Banks rise; ENRC slumpsBanks were given a lift after UBS upgraded its rating on the global financial sector from 'underweight' to 'overweight' on the back of a better outlook for the global economic and stronger capital levels. Part-nationalised peers Lloyds and RBS were among the best performers as speculation continues to ramp up over their potential reprivatisations next year.Heading the other way was Kazakhstan-focused miner ENRC after rejecting an indicative proposal by its founding shareholders, saying it "materially undervalues" the firm. While ENRC has not specified a price, Bloomberg reported that the founding shareholders are looking at an offer price of less than 300p per share, according to people close to the matter. Product testing group Intertek was also a heavy faller after its guidance on operating margins disappointed. The company said that margins in the first quarter were lower than last year due to a sharp profit decline in the minerals business. Associated British Foods and Tate & Lyle continued to fall after European sugar firm Suedzucker warned about lower profits, a market which the UK firms are heavily exposed to.FTSE 250: Ocado rockets after Morrisons dealA standout performer of the day was Ocado after confirming that it is teaming up with Morrison to help the supermarket launch its first shopping website in January next year. Ocado, which will provide its technology, logistics and distribution knowledge, saw its share price jump as much as a third.Alent, supplier of specialty chemicals and engineered materials, was a high riser after saying that there is no change to its full-year outlook despite a 5.8% fall in net sales value in the first quarter. Transport company National Express cheered its investors with the news the Department for Transport has decided to extend the c2c rail franchise to September 2014.John Menzies meanwhile was under the weather after reporting a mixed performance from its two main divisions in the first quarter. Aviation trading was ahead of last year, but the larger Distribution division was been hit by tough comparators and harsh conditions in the magazine market.FTSE 100 - RisersRoyal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 336.80p +5.65%Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 296.80p +3.99%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 62.84p +3.17%GKN (GKN) 305.80p +3.14%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,623.00p +2.53%CRH (CRH) 1,441.00p +2.49%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 451.00p +2.34%Sage Group (SGE) 363.50p +2.02%Barclays (BARC) 326.80p +2.00%Tesco (TSCO) 380.80p +1.85%FTSE 100 - FallersEurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC) 271.60p -8.03%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,757.00p -2.96%Weir Group (WEIR) 2,399.00p -2.87%Amec (AMEC) 1,044.00p -2.61%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,178.00p -2.48%Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,886.00p -2.03%Intertek Group (ITRK) 3,385.00p -1.94%easyJet (EZJ) 1,188.00p -1.90%Aviva (AV.) 340.30p -1.79%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 850.00p -1.33%FTSE 250 - RisersOcado Group (OCDO) 274.10p +35.76%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 116.70p +5.90%Persimmon (PSN) 1,272.00p +5.47%Dixons Retail (DXNS) 42.00p +5.00%Alent (ALNT) 340.90p +4.89%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 346.30p +4.81%Marston's (MARS) 153.80p +4.70%Workspace Group (WKP) 410.00p +4.17%Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,736.00p +4.01%Heritage Oil (HOIL) 147.80p +4.01%FTSE 250 - FallersMenzies(John) (MNZS) 762.00p -3.73%Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 158.50p -3.41%Synthomer (SYNT) 201.20p -3.27%Spirent Communications (SPT) 132.50p -2.79%Supergroup (SGP) 739.50p -2.70%RPS Group (RPS) 229.70p -2.34%Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 979.00p -2.10%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 338.40p -1.86%Big Yellow Group (BYG) 416.10p -1.82%Chemring Group (CHG) 291.50p -1.79%BC