LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE ) has been pretty flat, gaining just 14 points over the week to end Friday at 5,793 points. After a couple of weeks in which the index of top U.K. stocks fell on bad eurozone economic news and then regained everything it lost, perhaps it's good to have a week with no big news.
But even if the overall index isn't moving, plenty of U.K. stocks were up and down. We take a quick look.
Burberry Group (LSE: BRBY.L )
Top fashion-brand owner Burberry Group slumped badly in September, when a second-quarter retail sales update disappointed the market -- sales were still growing, but the growth rate was falling.
But this week we saw the price gain a nice 97 pence (9.4%) to 1,125 pence, after the firm released a first half trading update on Thursday showing 8% total revenue growth and 10% retail growth compared with the same period last year.
St Ives (LSE: SIV.L )
St Ives, the printer and publishing company that has reinvented itself into a "broadly based marketing services" business, continued its upward drive by putting on a further 10 pence (10%) to 106 pence over the week.
That takes the company's gain to 34% since the start of October, when the stock was valued at just 79 pence. And forecasts for next year still put it on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of only 6.5.
Morgan Crucible (LSE: MGCR.L )
Advanced materials supplier Morgan Crucible suffered further this week, falling 52 pence (19%) on the week to 227 pence, after releasing its latest quarterly update.
The company is facing "deteriorating conditions" across its markets, particularly Europe and China, leading to a 10% fall in revenues compared with first-half average levels. Those conditions are expected to last through the second half.
The stock is now down 35% from its year's high of 360 pence.
Cookson (LSE: CKSN.L )
Specialty materials and chemicals supplier Cookson plunged 85 pence (14%) to 530 pence after it admitted that full-year profits are now going to be "materially below" previous expectations.
The company, which supplies the steel and electronics industries, told us that its engineered ceramics division has suffered from weaker-than-expected trading, and September production fell in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil. And that comes on top of a general slowdown.
What now?
As usual, this week's FTSE trading provided some large share-price movements -- and perhaps some buying opportunities. Indeed, legendary investor Warren Buffett has spent more than $1 billion buying the shares of one of the U.K.'s most successful FTSE large caps.
Clearly, he thinks there are bargains to be had within Britain's stock market, and you can discover the details of his investment -- including the price he paid -- by reading this special report. The report -- "The One U.K. Share Warren Buffett Loves"-- is free and can be accessed immediately.
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