London afternoon: Equities in consolidation phase

London's leading shares continued to trade sideways over the lunchtime session, consolidating the morning's gains.Mining stocks are responsible for much of the Footsie's buoyancy with Xstrata, ENRC, Kazakhmys, Antofagasta, Anglo American and BHP Billiton all going well. Vedanta is also on the up after the Indian giant said zinc, copper and aluminium operations were at full capacity during the second quarter as it revealed a 16% rise in refined zinc production and a 27% surge in iron ore output.The share price of Lloyds Banking Group is reacting phlegmatically to reports that the part-nationalised bank is proposing to raise around £25bn in capital by means of a right issue and a debt to equity conversion. The plans will see the state's stake in the bank rise from 43% to 62%.In the FTSE 250, car and bike accessories retailer Halfords leads the risers after it saw the rate of like for like (LFL) sales growth pick up in the second quarter of its financial year. With sales and margins improving the board said it expects full-year profit before tax to be in the range of £59m to £61m.Support services and construction company Carillion is going well after saying it continues to perform well and remains on track to deliver materially enhanced earnings in 2009, despite challenging market conditions.Ladbrokes is leading the FTSE 250 fallers after the bookmaker announced plans to raise £275m via a rights issue as it warned that profitability has continued to weaken largely as a result of lower gross win margins. The group also scrapped it final dividend in 2009 but said it intends to re-instate dividend payments at the interim results next year. Sector peer William Hill dips lower in sympathy.Mobile phone retailer and broadband provider Carphone Warehouse reiterated its existing guidance for the year to March 2010, after posting rises in customers at its two divisions. Australian air Express (AeE) has extended defence firm Cobham's long term contract to provide air freight services to eastern Australian ports. The contract extension is worth AU$100m.Recruitment firm Hays posted continuing sharp revenue falls across its geographical and business divisions in the quarter to September 30, with permanent recruitment fees leading the decline, falling by half.Italian restaurant chain Carluccio's said it expects to post a pre-tax profit ahead of expectations after seeing an 8% rise in turnover in the year to 27 September.Hochschild Mining has increased the size of the bond issue announced on Wednesday as part of its fund raising plans. The company has successfully placed $115m of senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2014; initial plans were for the bond issue to raise $100m.Housebuilder Barratt Developments is wanted as brokers interpret the news that it is listing on property web site Rightmove again as a positive sign for the company.Fashion chain Ted Baker said its first half performance has been better than expected in difficult trading conditions. Profit before tax in the 28 weeks to 15 August eased 18.4% to £6m from £7.4m in the corresponding period of 2008.Magners cider maker C&C reported a 10.5% fall in revenues and profits during the six months to August 31 as drinkers saved money during the tough economic climate by imbibing at home rather than in bars.Shareholders in gaming machine operator Sceptre Leisure had a nice little win as the company announced a hefty increase in earnings. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to £13m in the year to 30 April from £7.2m the year before.