Johnson Matthey Share News (JMAT)

Shares in speciality chemicals company Johnson Matthey leapt to the top of the leaderboard after it reported a robust set of half-year results, powered by a strong performance in Emission Control Technologies ahead of new European legislation and good demand for Process Technologies' products.The group, which manufactures catalysts to control car emissions, said underlying pre-tax profit rose 13% to £212.9m for the six months ended September 30th on revenue that surged 31% to £6.4bn. The company also does some work related to the pharmaceutical industry, which may help explain why both AstraZeneca and Shire have made strong gains. Airline easyJet was another top performer; earlier this week it posted an impressive set of full-year results, which sent its share price soaring. Housebuilder Persimmon gained on the back of the latest UK tax figures which have signalled a housing boom with stamp duty revenues at the same level they were just before the economic crisis in 2008. Meanwhile, the downside was being led by miners, as investors digested the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting, and a slowdown in Chinese PMI. Antofagasta fell after a downgrade to 'neutral' from 'buy' by UBS. Adding to woes, metal prices were broadly lower. Cigarette companies BATS and Imperial Tobacco were lower after US sector peer Philip Morris International warned the industry could suffer an overall 2-3% decline in 2014. FTSE 100 - RisersJohnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,204.00p +3.56%AstraZeneca (AZN) 3,399.00p +2.74%easyJet (EZJ) 1,409.00p +2.32%Persimmon (PSN) 1,188.00p +2.15%Shire Plc (SHP) 2,847.00p +2.01%Barclays (BARC) 257.25p +1.84%William Hill (WMH) 366.00p +1.78%G4S (GFS) 264.70p +1.73%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 358.70p +1.61%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 103.70p +1.47%FTSE 100 - FallersFresnillo (FRES) 862.50p -4.64%Vedanta Resources (VED) 917.50p -3.52%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,342.00p -3.40%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,366.00p -2.63%Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,278.00p -2.57%Antofagasta (ANTO) 790.00p -2.11%British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,291.50p -2.04%Anglo American (AAL) 1,378.50p -1.85%Rexam (REX) 486.10p -1.84%BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,904.00p -1.65%NR