London afternoon: Shares aim higher

London's blue chips have added to gains in afternoon trading ahead of what is expected to be a rosy start on Wall Street.US stocks are seen posting good gains after Intel hiked its third-quarter revenue outlook just before the open.Kazakhmys, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta, Randgold Resources, Anglo American and Vedanta Resources are all amongst the major risers.Lloyds is amongst the risers on rumours that it is considering alternatives to the government's toxic asset protection scheme (APS), which could include the sale of Scottish Widows or even a rights issue. The part-nationalised lender may also sell Clerical Medical, a provider of investment products and pensions.National Express dropped after it rejected the improved 450p per share offer from a consortium led by its main shareholder, saying that it undervalued the group and its prospects.Bus and rail operator Stagecoach said conditions remain challenging as it reported a 4.4% rise in like-for-like UK bus revenues and a 0.9% rise in UK rail revenues in the 12 weeks to July 26. Online gaming giant PartyGaming saw pre-tax profits rise at the half year stage, but revenues fell by 21% predominantly due to the strength of the dollar against the euro and sterling. Cost control measures and a refusal to slash prices helped Restaurant Group, the company behind the Frankie & Bennie's and Chiquito chains, to post a rise in profits for the first half of the year despite falling sales at its restaurants.Oil explorer Dana Petroleum reported a sharp drop in first half profits in what it called a very difficult macro economic environment. Profit before tax for the period was £21.9m from £133.1m last time. JKX Oil meanwhile saw lower oil prices crimp profits for the half-year but said its second half performance is expected to be in line with expectations.Oil explorer Heritage Oil reduced half year losses and said growth prospects never looked better, while fellow oil and gas firm Melrose Resources upgraded its full year production guidance but saw half-year results also hit by lower commodity prices.Independent News and Media, the Irish publisher of the UK's Independent newspaper, swung to a first-half net loss and said it expects full-year profits to be at the low end of guidance.Edinburgh based publisher Johnston Press said half year pre-tax losses swelled to £94m as revenues fell 25%. The group, which produces the Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, said pre-tax loss swelled to £94.2m in the 26 Weeks to 30 June 2009 from a loss of £53.7m the year before. Revenue fell to £218.6m.Advertising firm Aegis saw profits slide in the first half of the year after the downturn in the sector proved more difficult than expected. Pre-tax profits for the period totalled £6.6m compared with £47.4m for the first half of 2008. Revenue climbed to £636.7m from £607.6m due to positive currency effects.Laundry and workwear firm Davis Service Group posted a slight fall in pre-tax profits in the first half of the year as it continued to experience tough trading in its main markets.Upmarket cooker maker Aga moved into the red in the half year to 30 June and expects Autumn sales to match levels seen the same time last year.Investment bank Evolution saw adjusted operating profit jump 102% in the half year ended 30 June to £9.1m as Investment Banking income rose 93% to £33.9m, mainly from more sustainable secondary equities and fixed income commissions.FTSE 100 - RisersKazakhmys (KAZ) 997.50p +6.46%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 110.74p +5.77%Xstrata (XTA) 834.00p +5.30%Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC) 870.00p +4.82%Randgold Resources (RRS) 3,642.00p +4.66%Lonmin (LMI) 1,476.00p +4.38%Wolseley (WOS) 1,463.00p +4.13%Antofagasta (ANTO) 770.00p +3.98%FTSE 100 - FallersSerco Group (SRP) 470.00p -2.67%Pennon Group (PNN) 461.50p -1.33%BG Group (BG.) 1,032.00p -0.86%Schroders NV (SDRC) 911.00p -0.82%United Utilities Group (UU.) 462.20p -0.75%National Grid (NG.) 600.00p -0.66%Cobham (COB) 202.80p -0.64%Schroders (SDR) 1,080.00p -0.64%