8 March 2021 | 08:41am
StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened higher on Monday after the US Senate passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package and oil prices rose due to attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia.
At 0828, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 29.98 points, or 0.5%, at 6,660.50.
BP gained 1.8% to 324.44p and Shell gained 1.8% to £15.76 after Brent crude rose above $70 a barrel.
Educational publisher and services group Pearson shed 2.7% to 739.8p, even as it posted a rise in annual profit owing to the sale of a stake in publisher Penguin Random House and lower restructuring charges.
Pearson s underlying earnings, however, fell after the pandemic led to school closures and disrupted exam schedules. The company held its annual dividend steady at 19.5p per share.
8 March 2021 | 12:10pm
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% to 6,644.30 by midday, amid volatility in the oil price after attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities over the weekend and continuing nervousness about inflation.
Educational publisher and services group Pearson gained 5.5% to 801.6p as it posted a rise in annual profit owing to the sale of a stake in publisher Penguin Random House and lower restructuring charges.
Pearson s underlying earnings, however, fell after the pandemic led to school closures and disrupted exam schedules. The company held its annual dividend steady at 19.5p per share and also announced a new strategy.
Enterprise software group Micro Focus International slumped 4.7% to 466.3p after a jury ruled against it in a US patent infringement case.
Terry Boot has stepped into the position of finance boss at Shoe Zone after Peter Foot walked away unexpectedly after just seven months in the role. The change comes as the company shares dropped.