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(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 1.2% at 10,385.75 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Informa was the standout performer on the index after the media blue chip reaffirmed full-year guidance.
Updating on trading ahead of the annual general meeting, Informa - a specialist in business-to-business exhibitions and academic publishing - said underlying revenues had grown 6.4% in the five months to 31 May. More than $4bn of revenues have already been traded, booked or visible for the full-year via subscriptions, recurring revenues and forward-booked contracts, it added.
The group reaffirmed earnings guidance for the current year - for a double-digit improvement in underlying in adjusted earnings per share - with further "strong" growth forecast for 2027.
Elsewhere, Intertek advanced as it agreed to be taken over by Swedish private equity firm EQT in a £9.5bn deal.
EQT will pay £61.077 per share for the inspection, product testing and certification group. This comprises £60 in cash and a final dividend of 107.7p per share. The price represents a 59% premium to the closing Intertek share price on 9 April, which was the last business day before EQT submitted its initial proposal.
Persimmon, Land Securities and 3i Group all fell as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Informa (INF) 855.40p 2.29%
Spirax Group (SPX) 7,095.00p 2.01%
IMI (IMI) 3,024.00p 1.82%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 480.90p 1.69%
Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,362.00p 1.69%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 5,800.00p 1.49%
Lion Finance Group (BGEO) 11,510.00p 1.41%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 459.30p 1.39%
Next (NXT) 14,335.00p 1.24%
Standard Life (SDLF) 802.50p 0.88%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Fresnillo (FRES) 3,121.00p -5.95%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 8,446.00p -5.76%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,055.50p -5.07%
Flutter Entertainment (DI) (FLTR) 7,584.00p -5.06%
ICG (ICG) 1,729.00p -4.69%
Entain (ENT) 544.20p -4.05%
Relx plc (REL) 2,348.00p -4.05%
Land Securities Group (LAND) 628.50p -3.97%
The Sage Group (SGE) 799.60p -3.78%
3i Group (III) 2,210.00p -3.69%a
