London midday: FTSE 100 stable for now after gains

Shares are holding onto most of their gains after rallying on the back of the US Federal Reserve's announcement that rates will stay low for two years.Hopes that this will keep the global economy growing has spurred demand for miners, with big-hitters such as Xstrata and Kazakhmys higher, joined by commodities trader Glencore.Standard Life was among the best performers after operating profits at the savings, investments and pensions firm jumped by 44% in the first half.Global banking giant HSBC was higher after revealing that US lender Capital One is the buyer of its card and retail services business in the US. HSBC said its post-tax gain on the sale is estimated to be $2.4bn. FTSE 250 travel firm TUI Travel said it is on track to meet full-year expectations after operating profits surged in the group's third quarter. The package tour firm saw a 13% increase in revenue and a 57% increase in operating profit for its third quarter (to June 30) compared to 2010, when the effects of the Icelandic volcano ash cloud were disrupting travel plans across Europe. Meanwhile, shareholders in wounded bid target Micro Focus got some good news on Wednesday as the legacy software specialist said it is trading ahead of expectations. Shares jumped by a fifth. The upbeat trading statement makes a change from profit warnings, of which there have been two this year.Greene King, Northumbrian Water and Pennon are lower after going ex-dividend.Shares in internet video security company IndigoVision dropped after the company warned that it will not meet its sales and profits targets for the year ended 31 July.Dragon Oil is on fire after it ramped up production in the six months to 30 June, helping the Central Asia-focused oil group to benefit from the soaring oil price. Profit for the period totalled $309.4m, up from $137.6m over the same period the previous year, on revenues that soared to $527.4m from $276.3m. The company is paying a 9 cent interim dividend, having not paid one last year. Fashion retailer French Connection is in fashion after it said first half profit will be in line with management expectations as it successfully weathers tough conditions on the high street. The clothing and accessories retailer said it saw growth in like-for-like sales at its UK stores despite the difficult market conditions. FTSE 100 - RisersStandard Life (SL.) 196.70p +12.98%Man Group (EMG) 198.20p +9.26%Weir Group (WEIR) 1,802.00p +5.81%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 33.86p +5.43%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,319.00p +4.60%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,375.00p +4.40%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 100.20p +4.00%Autonomy Corporation (AU.) 1,546.00p +3.62%Barclays (BARC) 185.60p +3.51%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 27.11p +3.43%FTSE 100 - FallersStandard Chartered (STAN) 1,445.50p -2.53%Essar Energy (ESSR) 294.20p -1.90%Serco Group (SRP) 513.00p -1.35%Smiths Group (SMIN) 984.50p -1.06%Vodafone Group (VOD) 159.95p -0.96%Capita Group (CPI) 686.50p -0.72%Anglo American (AAL) 2,406.00p -0.56%Tesco (TSCO) 368.25p -0.51%BG Group (BG.) 1,234.50p -0.24%BAE Systems (BA.) 255.70p -0.20%FTSE 250 - RisersMicro Focus International Plc (MCRO) 302.60p +20.70%Afren (AFR) 106.00p +11.93%International Personal Finance (IPF) 274.80p +11.66%Kofax (KFX) 296.90p +9.76%Telecom Plus (TEP) 603.50p +9.73%New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 616.50p +9.02%Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 229.00p +8.07%Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 57.50p +7.78%Ashmore Group (ASHM) 387.90p +7.69%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 367.70p +7.05%FTSE 250 - FallersChemring Group (CHG) 507.50p -4.06%Greene King (GNK) 427.80p -3.56%Michael Page International (MPI) 391.80p -3.14%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 41.28p -2.96%Savills (SVS) 320.70p -2.88%QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 108.40p -2.78%BBA Aviation (BBA) 173.80p -2.58%Premier Farnell (PFL) 177.40p -2.53%PZ Cussons (PZC) 350.00p -2.40%Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 128.60p -2.21%