Legal & General Share News (LGEN)

- Stocks pare gains after Draghi offers no hints- US economic data comes in mixed- Mining and oil stocks weigh on FootsieAfter a decent start, gains for London's FTSE 100 were pared late on after a European Central Bank (ECB) press conference failed to boost confidence, meaning that the index finished only slightly higher than the day before.The ECB left its key lending rate unchanged at 1% today and while it was widely expected to do so, the markets were closely watching the following press conference with the bank's President Mario Draghi to offer some hints at further policy measures to help the Eurozone. He said that current policy measures are "accommodative"."In the short term, LTRO's appear off the table as Mr Draghi said it is too soon to say the effects are vanishing however he never went as far as to say there would be no more in the future stating the ECB never pre commit, however he did confirm there would be an announcement regarding the LTRO's in June," said Alpari analyst Craig Erlam.Economic data from the US failed to cement gains late on as some better-than-expected jobless claims data was offset by some disappointing non-manufacturing figures from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).The number of people who sought unemployment benefits in the US last week fell by 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 365,000. Analysts were predicting more moderate fall to around 378,000-379,000. Meanwhile, the ISM's non-manufacturing index fell from 56 to 53.5 last month, below consensus estimates of 55.3.FTSE 100: Resource stocks out of favourFalling metals prices and some disappointing trading updates from Antofagasta and Randgold Resources were weighing on the mining category today with sector peers Kazakhmys, Vedanta and Rio Tinto taken down a peg.Chilean-based copper mining company Antofagasta was a heavy faller, down over 4% in afternoon trade, after the firm said that production dropped sharply in the first three months of 2012 as maintenance work, lower ore grades and technical problem hampered activity.Meanwhile, gold miner Randgold fell as investors shrugged off impressive year-on-year production and profit growth in the first quarter with the group reporting that both elements were sharply lower then the fourth quarter of 2011. Oil and gas group BG was unwanted despite a sharp increase in net earnings in the first quarter, as it said that its Jasmine field will not start production until 2013, compared with previous guidance of "the end of this year". Insurance giant Legal and General also disappointed the market with its first-quarter revenue figure, which were barely changed from a year earlier. Leading the upside was medical technology group Smith and Nephew after profits and margins beat both analysts' and management forecasts in the first quarter of 2012, leading to a strong rise in the share price. FTSE 250: Betfair leaps on German licenceOnline betting exchange operator Betfair was a top riser on the second-tier index after reporting that it has been awarded a licence to operate its betting exchange in the German state of Schleswig Holstein. Heading the other way was West African gold exploration and mining company Avocet after it saw production dive in the first quarter due to availability issues with two of the excavators at its Inata mine. FTSE 100 - RisersSmith & Nephew (SN.) 629.50p +3.96%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,591.00p +2.25%Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 859.00p +2.08%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 713.50p +2.07%Whitbread (WTB) 2,006.00p +1.67%Reed Elsevier (REL) 523.50p +1.55%Diageo (DGE) 1,614.50p +1.54%Bunzl (BNZL) 1,063.00p +1.53%Old Mutual (OML) 150.30p +1.42%ITV (ITV) 85.55p +1.42%FTSE 100 - FallersAntofagasta (ANTO) 1,108.00p -4.40%Weir Group (WEIR) 1,616.00p -3.81%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,150.00p -3.74%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 118.00p -3.12%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 825.00p -2.94%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,363.00p -2.21%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,180.00p -2.16%Standard Life (SL.) 219.70p -2.01%CRH (CRH) 1,236.00p -1.90%BG Group (BG.) 1,424.50p -1.83%FTSE 250 - RisersCOLT Group SA (COLT) 119.20p +5.77%Betfair Group (BET) 839.50p +5.66%Perform Group (PER) 313.40p +4.47%Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 256.10p +4.06%Dixons Retail (DXNS) 18.82p +4.04%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 156.10p +3.79%Inmarsat (ISAT) 457.80p +3.55%EnQuest (ENQ) 132.10p +3.53%Northgate (NTG) 205.60p +2.80%Ruspetro (RPO) 192.00p +2.67%FTSE 250 - FallersTalvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 168.20p -5.40%Rank Group (RNK) 114.90p -5.04%Avocet Mining (AVM) 161.00p -5.01%Home Retail Group (HOME) 83.35p -4.80%Exillon Energy (EXI) 135.40p -4.38%Premier Farnell (PFL) 208.50p -3.34%Fenner (FENR) 434.20p -2.99%Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 176.50p -2.97%Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 804.00p -2.90%Chemring Group (CHG) 361.10p -2.90%BC