London close: Autonomy movement helps limit losses

Stocks finished in the red heading into the weekend but off their daily lows, having bounced back into the blue from heavy losses earlier on.Today's standout stock was Autonomy rocketed by over 75% in early trading after US computing giant Hewlett-Packard made a recommended offer for the Cambridge-based software firm, valuing it at around £7.09bn.Shareholders at FTSE 250 bus and rail transport firm Stagecoach also celebrated, after the firm announced that they are to pocket £340m as part of a proposed one-off return of cash. It has managed to stay in the fast lane today despite the slide.Nomura said that the shape of future earnings at Stagecoach is improving and revised its target price for the bus and train group to 278p, from 275p previously.On a day that saw mining and banking stocks suffering big losses but then rallying, Essar Energy was the FTSE 100's heaviest faller at the close of play. The Indian energy group said its subsidiary Essar Power Gujarat has served notice on the state electricity utility in Gujarat to terminate a power purchase agreement.High diamond prices have helped Gem Diamonds achieve record earnings in the first six months of 2011, which surged almost five-fold compared with the first half of 2010. Shares jumped over 3% higher.Fund manager Jupiter fell despite saying that it is to pay a maiden interim dividend of 2.5p after a strong performance in the first half of the year. Assets under management (AUM) at the end of June stood at £24.8bn, up from the year-end figure of £24.1bn.BSkyB fell after the Competition Commission provisionally determined that satellite broadcaster's control over the pay-TV film rights in the UK is restricting competition between pay-TV providers, leading to higher prices and reduced choice and innovation for subscribers.Turning to small companies today, shares in IPSO Ventures tumbled to a new low after the technology commercialisation group posted a pre-tax loss in the year to 30 April amid "challenging" trading. IPSO exploits innovations developed by researchers in universities and other institutions. Shares in AIM-listed Indonesian miner Churchill Mining took a hammering on Friday after a legal set-back. The firm revealed that its appeal to the Administrative High Court in Jakarta over the revocation of two of the four licenses on the East Kutai Coal Project has been dismissed. Thor Mining's Norm Gardner has resigned from his position as a non-executive director of the Australia-focused exploration company with immediate effect. The reason for Gardner's resignation is attributed to his wish to focus his time on Western Desert Resources, where he is managing director. FTSE 100 - RisersAutonomy Corporation (AU.) 2,452.00p +71.59%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,970.00p +7.07%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,168.00p +3.09%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,610.00p +3.04%Reed Elsevier (REL) 474.90p +2.95%ARM Holdings (ARM) 490.00p +2.36%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,362.50p +2.33%ICAP (IAP) 409.50p +1.87%Sage Group (SGE) 235.80p +1.77%Man Group (EMG) 188.80p +1.72%FTSE 100 - FallersEssar Energy (ESSR) 257.70p -8.68%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) 168.10p -6.30%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 20.77p -5.38%Tullow Oil (TLW) 946.00p -4.83%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 28.38p -4.78%IMI (IMI) 738.00p -4.71%Wolseley (WOS) 1,404.00p -4.68%Weir Group (WEIR) 1,730.00p -4.42%Land Securities Group (LAND) 733.00p -3.93%John Wood Group (WG.) 507.50p -3.61%FTSE 250 - RisersAveva Group (AVV) 1,530.00p +9.91%Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 195.50p +7.42%JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 874.50p +6.52%Misys (MSY) 249.00p +6.09%Rank Group (RNK) 115.10p +5.11%New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 539.50p +4.86%St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 139.00p +4.51%Telecity Group (TCY) 530.50p +4.02%Micro Focus International Plc (MCRO) 263.00p +3.54%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 448.20p +3.06%FTSE 250 - FallersLamprell (LAM) 275.60p -7.17%Bodycote (BOY) 265.60p -6.45%Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) 230.80p -6.18%Pace (PIC) 93.20p -5.95%Henderson Group (HGG) 123.00p -5.38%Exillon Energy (EXI) 300.20p -5.30%Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 297.20p -5.02%Laird (LRD) 143.70p -4.96%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 67.50p -4.73%Premier Foods (PFD) 14.10p -4.73%