Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

Associated British Foods was the top performer on Wednesday in the aftermath of its full-year results, with UBS providing a lift after upping its target price for the stock from 2,030p to 2,430p. The bank reiterated its 'buy' rating for the shares. Annual figures from the company were in line with expectations with adjusted earnings per share up 13% at 98.9p, 'driven by an outstanding performance from Primark where profits increased by 44% on a 22% sales increase (of which only 11% was new space)', according to the Swiss bank. This offset a more subdued performance in the Sugar and Ingredients divisions. Both TUI Travel and IAG shares were higher on read-across from airline easyJet, which rose strongly after it posted a 5.4% rise in October passenger numbers, along with a 0.7 percentage point (pp) increase in its load factor for the four-week period. On a 12-month rolling basis, numbers were up 4%, with the load factor 0.8pp higher.Meanwhile, credit-checking and information services firm Experian was a heavy faller as investors gave a cool reaction to the acquisition of Passport Health Communications for $850m and its first-half results. Jefferies downgraded the stock from 'buy' to 'hold' today, saying that investors will "debate [...] on value creation after another sizeable acquisition".Paper and packaging group Mondi declined after saying that scheduled maintenance shutdowns were to blame for flat sales volumes in the third quarter.Centrica was also lower, despite announcing that it has signed a four-year, multi-billion pound gas deal with Qatargas. The agreement, under which it will purchase up to 3m tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG), builds on an existing agreement that was signed in early 2011. Fellow utility stock Unilever was also in the red. Marks & Spencer shares retreated after yesterday's strong gains, when it posted a smaller than expected decline in first half profits. FTSE 100 - RisersAssociated British Foods (ABF) 2,289.00p +3.67%TUI Travel (TT.) 387.40p +3.28%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 355.50p +3.01%easyJet (EZJ) 1,239.00p +2.99%Old Mutual (OML) 205.10p +2.76%Barclays (BARC) 254.90p +2.37%G4S (GFS) 254.90p +2.08%IMI (IMI) 1,563.00p +1.96%GKN (GKN) 371.80p +1.95%ITV (ITV) 194.40p +1.78%FTSE 100 - FallersExperian (EXPN) 1,186.00p -6.10%Mondi (MNDI) 1,064.00p -4.66%Unilever (ULVR) 2,480.00p -2.17%Centrica (CNA) 351.00p -1.96%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 500.00p -1.77%Fresnillo (FRES) 986.50p -1.55%Antofagasta (ANTO) 878.00p -1.24%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,483.50p -1.07%Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,803.00p -1.04%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,566.00p -1.02%NR