LONDON (Alliance News) - Miners were the best performers in London in early trade on Friday amid a bounce in commodity prices, while sterling remained depressed as the market awaited the announcement of the date when UK Prime Minister Theresa May's occupancy of Downing Street will end.The FTSE 100 was up 41.98 points, or 0.6%, at 7,273.02 early Friday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 was up 101.71 points, or 0.5%, at 19,132.92. The AIM All-Share was up 0.1% at 958.81.The Cboe UK 100 index was up 0.6% at 12,330.86. The Cboe UK 250 was up 0.5% at 17,216.23, with the Cboe UK Small Companies up 0.1% at 11,775.13.In European equities, the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 30 in Frankfurt were up 0.6% and 0.8% respectively."For today, the domestic political situation is likely to remain at the front and centre of attention," said Lloyds Banking.Lloyds continued: "The pressure on PM May to resign has intensified over the past few days, especially following the resignation of the leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, earlier this week."May is expected to set out when she will quit Number 10 after a Cabinet revolt over her Brexit plan.May will meet the leader of backbench Conservatives, Graham Brady, on Friday to discuss her future after her authority was left in tatters following the backlash against her "new Brexit deal".The prime minister's private meeting with Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, could be the moment that May sets the date for her exit from Downing Street.A 1922 Committee source told the Press Association they expected June 10 to be the day May chooses.The new withdrawal agreement bill had been due to be published on Friday but that has been delayed in a sign of the chaos at the top of the government.Sterling was quoted at USD1.2673 early Friday, steady compared to USD1.2662 at the London equities close on Thursday.Miners were among the best performers in the FTSE 100 in early dealings, with Antofagasta up 1.7%, Anglo American and Rio Tinto both up 1.6%, and Glencore up 1.2%."Oil is off its lows having seen demand concerns related to trade uncertainty compound higher US inventories. Copper also bouncing. Watch miners and oil stocks after yesterday's weakness, with BHP and Rio Tinto positive in Australia overnight," commented Michael van Dulken at Accendo Markets.Oil was quoted at USD68.45 a barrel early Friday, up from USD67.75 on Thursday.In the FTSE 250, Royal Mail rose 6.7% after Goldman Sachs raised the stock to Buy from Neutral. On Wednesday, the postal operator said it will cut its normal dividend by two-thirds next year as it continued to push forward its wide-ranging turnaround and cost-cutting programme.Pub operator Mitchells & Butlers was gaining on the back of a ratings upgrade as well, shares rising 2.6% after Citigroup raised the stock to Buy from Neutral.Spectris was up 1.0% as the measuring instruments and controls company reported growth in year-to-date sales despite a slowing in some end markets.Like-for-like sales in the first four months of 2019 were up 3%, despite an anticipated moderation in certain end markets. On a reported basis, sales were up 6% in the period.By division, the company said there was strong like-for-like growth from In-Line Instrumentation and in Materials Analysis, despite continued challenges at Concept Life Sciences. Comparable sales declined in Test & Measurement and Industrial Controls, the latter hit by US-China tariffs and slowing US industrial production.Overall, Spectris said trading has been in line with annual expectations."While we note some challenges due to macro-economic and geopolitical uncertainties, we continue to focus on driving sales growth and focusing on what we can control - delivering our plan to enhance margins," the FTSE 250 constituent said.Mothercare was up 19% after the retailer reported a narrowed annual loss despite sales slipping, having postponed its results announcement by a day to Friday.Revenue for the 53 weeks to March 30 was GBP513.8 million, down from GBP580.6 million in the 52 weeks to March 24, 2018. However, the company's pretax loss narrowed to GBP66.6 million from GBP94.0 million.This was due to administrative costs falling to GBP76.9 million from GBP101.7 million. Including discontinued operations, Mothercare's loss swelled to GBP87.3 million from GBP72.8 million.UK like-for-like sales fell 8.9%, versus a 0.6% rise the year before. International like-for-like sales slipped 4.7% versus a 5.9% decline last year.The parenting products retailer said its current financial year should see the "final steps" towards the business completing its transformation, with Mothercare on track to meet consensus expectations.Old Mutual shares fell 5.1% after the financial services firm suspended Chief Executive Peter Moyo with immediate effect after a "material breakdown in trust and confidence".Anglo-South African Old Mutual did not give any further details, but said Chief Operating Officer Iain Williamson will become acting CEO.The economic events calendar on Friday has UK retail sales numbers at 0930 BST and US durable goods orders at 1330 BST.Already released, consumer prices in Japan climbed 0.9% year-on-year in April due to rising energy costs, official figures showed. The figure represented the 28th straight month of increase, said the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. But the inflation rate remained far off a 2% inflation goal set by the Bank of Japan in 2013.In Asia on Friday, the Japanese Nikkei 225 index closed down 0.2%. In China, the Shanghai Composite ended flat, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong is up 0.4%.
UK dividends calendar - next 7 days
Wednesday 15 May | |
Capital Ltd | dividend payment date |
Grit Real Estate Income Group Ltd | dividend payment date |
Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd | dividend payment date |
Just Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Rentokil Initial PLC | dividend payment date |
Thursday 16 May | |
abrdn Property Income Trust Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Alternative Income REIT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Aquila European Renewables PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Balfour Beatty PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
BP PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Bunzl PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Churchill China PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
EJF Investments Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Essentra PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Fevertree Drinks PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
FRP Advisory Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Greencoat UK Wind PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
GSK PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Haleon PLC | dividend payment date |
Henderson Opportunities Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Income & Growth VCT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Irish Continental Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
James Halstead PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Jarvis Securities PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Kingfisher PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
M Winkworth PLC | dividend payment date |
Majedie Investments PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Manx Financial Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Mercantile Investment Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Morgan Sindall Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Murray Income Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
PageGroup PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Pershing Square Holdings Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Property Franchise Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Prudential PLC | dividend payment date |
RHI Magnesita NV | ex-dividend payment date |
Shell PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Spectris PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Supermarket Income REIT PLC | dividend payment date |
Target Healthcare REIT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
TClarke PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Tesco PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Unilever PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Vaalco Energy Inc | ex-dividend payment date |
Vector Capital PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Witan Investment Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Friday 17 May | |
AB Dynamics PLC | dividend payment date |
Barratt Developments PLC | dividend payment date |
Breedon Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Cairn Homes PLC | dividend payment date |
Direct Line Insurance Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Drax Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
IMI PLC | dividend payment date |
Impact Healthcare REIT PLC | dividend payment date |
JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income PLC | dividend payment date |
JPMorgan US Smaller Cos Investments Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Kenmare Resources PLC | dividend payment date |
Luceco PLC | dividend payment date |
Morgan Advanced Materials PLC | dividend payment date |
Primary Health Properties PLC | dividend payment date |
Seneca Growth Capital VCT PLC - Class B | dividend payment date |
Standard Chartered PLC | dividend payment date |
Monday 20 May | |
Airea PLC | dividend payment date |
Ascential PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
hVIVO PLC | dividend payment date |
Invesco Bond Income Plus Ltd | dividend payment date |
Jupiter Fund Management PLC | dividend payment date |
Murray International Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Tuesday 21 May | |
Bridgepoint Group PLC | dividend payment date |
HgCapital Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Lloyds Banking Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Old Mutual Ltd | dividend payment date |
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