Sector movers: Autonomy bid talk boosts software

Autonomy is among the stocks giving the software sector a lift. Gossip doing the rounds yesterday was acquisition-hungry US software giants Microsoft and Oracle are in the frame as likely bidders for the data search group at a price north of 2500p per share.A rise in the share price of Alkane Energy has failed to lift the broader alternative energy sector.Alkane, which designs, builds, operates and services methane treatment and generation plants, has extended its tolling agreement with energy supply company GDF SUEZ Energy by 18 months until March 2012.Top performing sectors so far todayIndustrial Metals & Mining 6,350.16 +3.95%Health Care Equipment & Services 3,110.70 +1.75%Industrial Engineering 5,432.70 +1.45%Software & Computer Services 653.94 +1.39%Technology Hardware & Equipment 548.70 +1.36%Bottom performing sectors so far todayAlternative Energy 3,914.63 -0.84%Automobiles & Parts 3,525.80 -0.72%Gas, Water & Multiutilities 4,398.27 -0.32%Forestry & Paper 5,359.83 -0.26%Industrial Transportation 2,264.22 -0.23% Alkemy Capital.