LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) fell back about 1% today to end on 5,571 points. But that comes on top of a generally positive week, which benefited from some stronger-than-expected retail results.
Yet there was plenty of individual share action today that ignored general index trends.
Some up...
Following Home Retail, which has gained 10 pence since its Tuesday results to hit 84 pence, Dixons Retail also jumped on results day, putting on 6.3% to close on 17 pence today after its figures came in better than expected.
Software house Micro Focus had a good day, ending 6% up to 479 pence on a good set of results. Ashtead Group also got a nice boost from its results, up 3.4 pence for a 1.4% rise to 254 pence. Sirius Petroleum gained 7% to 3.4 pence on a development update, and Shanta Gold (LSE: SHG.L) is up 10% to 22.2 pence after the successful commissioning of a new plant.
Tiny digital TV company Motive Television gained 16% to 0.11 pence after being granted a patent in Spain. If the patent is extended to the whole EU, and even the U.S., the company could strike it rich.
Some down...
Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L) dropped 5% to 2,102 pence due to general mining malaise. Other major miners also suffered, with BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT.L) shedding 56 pence for a 3% fall to 1,819 pence, Xstrata falling 3%, to 841 pence, and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L), down 3% to 3,000 pence.
Some smaller ones suffered badly, too. Aquarius Platinum slumped by 11% to 53 pence after announcing the mothballing of one of its mines, while tantalum miner Noventa tumbled 30% to 2.9 pence due to financing worries. New World Oil & Gas dropped 7% to 11 pence, despite a positive update on its Blue Creek Project.
The Invensys slump stabilized during the day to finish down 17% at 212 pence after the firm confirmed takeover bid talks but announced they had failed. That came after yesterday's late-afternoon spike.
Go-Ahead Group slid 2% to 1,196 pence after the travel operator released a reasonable-looking preclose update. Such are the vagaries of the market.
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