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Britain's FTSE rallies as DCC, Taylor Wimpey buoyed by earnings

Mon, 14th Nov 2016 10:36

(ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time onthe Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon, see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets)

* FTSE 100 up 1 pct

* DCC soars after results

* Taylor Wimpey also gains after update

* Greencore Group leads mid caps after merger news

By Kit Rees

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index climbedon Monday, led higher by a jump in support services firm DCC andhousebuilder Taylor Wimpey which both rose on well-receivedresults.

The blue chip FTSE 100 index rose 1 percent to6,799.17 points by 1025 GMT, in line with a broader bounce onEuropean equity markets.

DCC was the top riser, up more than 6 percent andset for its biggest one-day gain in a year after saying itexpected full-year profit to come in ahead of expectations.

The firm, whose activities span oil distribution, wastemanagement and food distribution, also said it would buy a 97pct stake in French natural gas retail and marketing businessGaz Européen.

"DCC is a very well-run company," Jonathan Roy of CharlesHanover Investments said.

"They're actually exposed in quite a few different areas, soit's a company that doesn't really trade on external factors.It's all about its internal progression, and that's been quitestrong."

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey climbed 3.4 percent after sayingit expected an increase in full-year operating profit margin,adding that trading had remained resilient following Britain'svote to leave the European Union.

"Taylor Wimpey's plans for 2016 have not been derailed bythis year's political events and the forward orderbook suggeststhat profits will grow further in 2017," analysts at Jefferiessaid in a note, adding that Taylor Wimpey was their top pickamong the housebuilders they covered.

Retailer Marks and Spencer rose 3.8 after Citigroupupgraded its rating on the stock to "buy".

Shares in Marks and Spencer had suffered after the firmreported results earlier this month and announced plans to closestores and switch space towards food and away from fashion.

"Investor concerns look overdone," analysts at Citigroupsaid in a note.

"Execution remains a key risk - Our Buy rating ispredicated on MKS delivering on its strategic elements whilemaintaining its returns within Food."

The FTSE 100 had been under pressure from falls amongEM-exposed stocks at the end of last week, which fell afterDonald Trump won the U.S. presidential election.

Shares in utilities and more defensive stocks also sufferedas investors piled into a 'reflation' trade, favouring shares inmining and construction companies expected to benefit fromTrump's plans to up spending on infrastructure.

Shares in National Grid, Severn Trent andUnited Utilities were among the worst performers on theFTSE 100 on Monday.

Beyond the blue chips, a 12.6 percent leap in GreencoreGroup's shares buoyed the UK mid cap index,which was up 0.7 percent.

Greencore Group said that it planned to buy U.S. conveniencefood manufacturer Peacock Foods for $747.5 million in a bid totransform its U.S. business. (Reporting by Kit Rees; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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