London’s blue chip index powered nearer the 6,200 mark today, buoyed by strong trading updates from heavyweight firms on both sides of the Atlantic.
Technology giants Google and IBM beat estimates in the US, whilst closer to home consumer goods group Unilever’s full-year results came in at the top end of City hopes.
The FTSE 100 Index closed up 18.5 points at 6,197.6, reaching another high since May 2008.
Unilever was near the top of London’s blue-chip risers board after its 2012 figures showed a pick-up in growth towards the end of the year, helped by continued strong demand for its products in emerging markets. Shares were up 3% or 75p to £25.26.
Thomson and First Choice holidays operator TUI Travel dipped nearly 5% however, off 14.1p to 278p, after its German parent company said it was no longer interested in talks over an offer for the rest of the shares.
SSE was 4% lower after it announced that chief executive Ian Marchant would step down in the summer after 10 years at the helm. The stock was off 53p to £13.82.
Outside the top flight, regional airline group Flybe’s shares fell 5% after it announced around 300 jobs are to be axed as it battles to slash costs by £35million. Shares in the Exeter-based carrier fell 2.5p to 47p.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers included Tullow Oil up 40p to £11.95, Marks and Spencer 9.4p higher at 379.1p and Petrofac up 35p to £17.35.
Among the biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Standard Life 6.8p lower at 336.3p and Compass Group down 13.5p to 746p.
Steven McKay, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted EnQuest rose 4.26% to 130p, BP added 1.71% to 463.25p and Premier Oil closed 1.5% stronger at 372.4p.
Among the fallers, FirstGroup slipped 1.08% to finish at 191.65p.