Wood Group (J) Share News (WG.)

Footsie has shrugged off some profit taking among the miners and more bank weakness to open higher, with consumer stocks leading the way.Gains for Whitbread, Kingfisher and Next are helping Footsie push on despite Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland. Both state-controlled banks have been unsettled by reports of big rights issues on the way to reduce their involvement in the government's asset protection scheme.Antofagasta and Randgold lead the mining sector down, though falls are modest so far. Gold enjoyed another record day yesterday, it's third in a row, as the falling dollar and growing investment demand pushed prices past $1,060 an ounce at one stage. Troubled sportswear retailer JJB Sports has confirmed reports it is to raise £100m through an equity issue. In a brief statement, JJB said its board has reviewed a range of options to provide additional capital for the group and confirms that it is finalising arrangements for an equity issue to raise £100m.Oilfield services company Wood Group believes its 2009 performance will be in line with expectations and said it remains confident in the medium and longer term fundamentals for the business. However, the group warned that activity and margins at its development related engineering activities will continue to be impacted amid delays both in the pace at which projects are being progressed and in further awards. UK Coal's £100m fundraising has been well-supported, with 93.2% of the shareholders eligible for the open offer taking up their new shares. The company made 86.49m shares available under the 11 for 20 open offer at 75p each. The unwanted shares have also been snapped up, giving the group the £64.9m it was after.Intellectual property group RWS Holdings said underlying full-year profits will exceed 2007/08 levels but fall 'modestly' below consensus. As a result of significantly lower deposit rates, particularly compared to the second half last year, interest income will fall well short of initial budgets.