Sector movers: Demand for cloud boosts computing stocks

The software and computer services sector is the top performing sector on Friday, helped by blue chip data search firm Autonomy.Autonomy's shares were boosted after it completed the $380m acquisition of assets from Iron Mountain. The purchase is seen to boost the group's cloud computing capability (cloud computing allows users to store and retrieve their data from remote locations).Sector peer Iomart, the cloud computing and managed services company, is also wanted after announcing earlier in the week that pre-tax profits for the year to 31 March surged from £0.4m to £2.8m.The mining sector is among the worst performing sectors.African miner Edenville Energy fell into the red after reporting an operating loss of £304,348 in 2010 compared to £182,483 in 2009.Tantalum miner Noventa, whose shares dived yesterday when it reported that problems with funding and other issues mean it will not meet its production targets, says it will need to raise £15.3m to bring its Marropino mine in Mozambique into full production. Shares have tumbled over 12% today.---BCTop performing sectors so far todaySoftware & Computer Services 758.08 +1.64%Mobile Telecommunications 3,737.69 +1.61%Real Estate Investment Trusts 2,275.55 +0.76%Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 9,403.64 +0.56%Aerospace and Defence 3,353.86 +0.46%Bottom performing sectors so far todayForestry & Paper 6,495.13 -1.31%Mining 24,806.03 -0.71%Health Care Equipment & Services 3,767.91 -0.63%Household Goods & Home Construction 6,529.49 -0.52%Personal Goods 21,258.60 -0.52% Iomart