Moneysupermarket.Com Share News (MONY)

Footsie is keeping its head above 5800, climbing a bit further over the lunch time session despite expectations of a soft start on Wall Street.After better than expected results from US investment bank JP Morgan yesterday investors are keen on UK banks such as Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC Holdings but Lloyds Banking, which lacks the exposure to investment banking that the others boast, is barely changed. Exane BNP Paribas has raised its rating on the European banking sector from 'underweight' to 'neutral' while Execution Noble has given an additional boost to Barclays, lifting its price target for the stock from 386p to 454p.Broker comment is also lifting cruise operator Carnival. Morgan Stanley, which has a 'buy' rating for the shares, has lifted its price target to 3200p from 2700p for the owner of the P&O brand.Experian is the worst performing blue-chip. The credit checking firm saw revenues from continuing operations rise for the six months to March but revenues at its UK operations fell in the period. At constant exchange rates, total revenue in UK and Ireland declined 2%. Organic revenue also declined 2%, though total growth at actual exchange rates rose 6%. Overall revenue for the group, from continuing activities, increased 3% at constant exchange ratesRio Tinto is another stock nursing a loss after a trading update though it is difficult to tell whether this is due to the first quarter performance or the general lack of enthusiasm for mining stocks today. Rio said its operation continued to run at capacity with Chinese demand growing strongly and recovery in the West but it was still cautious about short term volatility. Rio Tinto's global iron ore production was up 39% on the first quarter of 2009. McBride, which makes personal care products for supermarkets to sell under their own label, has appointed an executive from the food and household goods giant Unilever as its new chief executive. Chris Bull, the chief customer officer for Unilever, will take up the reins at McBride from May 4.Oil & gas group Dana Petroleum has announced a 'significant' gas find in the North Sea.Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com enjoyed a solid first quarter, returning to revenue growth, and remains confident for the full year.Convenience food group Uniq slid into losses in 2009 as it narrowed its focus to concentrate on the UK. The company, whose customers include Marks & Spencer, posted a pre-tax loss of £18.5m for the year, compared with £100,000 the previous year, on revenues that edged up to £287.2m from £286.7m.Energy efficiency company Eaga has been trading in line with expectations with its Carbon Services and Managed Services business segments performing well, offsetting the less favourable trading conditions in its Heating business.Soap maker PZ Cussons said its full year trading outlook remains positive and is in line with company expectations despite challenging trading conditions in some territories and rising input costs.IT security firm NCC Group said trading performance remains in line with the board's expectations and on course to deliver the anticipated levels of growth and profitability.