COMPANIES

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors shied away due to the exposure of RBS to Ireland's ongoing debt crisis.

Shares in BT Group were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company raised its forecast for the full year 2010/11 after a strong rise in profit in the second quarter ended 30 September.

BAA, the owner of Heathrow and Stanstead airports, has reported a rise of 3.4 per cent in passenger numbers in October, thanks to a recovery in the number of business travellers.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report.

Shares in J Sainsbury were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the supermarket giant reported an "impressive" rise in sales and profit in the half year ended 2 October.

Shares in Hammerson were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the real estate company reported a strong trading performance at its retail assets in Britain and France in the third quarter ended 9 November.

Shares in Northern Foods were down on the FTSE All Share in afternoon trading after the company reported a decline in profit in the half year ended 2 October.

Shares in Legal & General were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading despite the financial services company reported a rise in net cash in the first nine months of the year.

Shares in InterContinental Hotels were down on the FTSE 100 after the group reported falling operating profit and higher net debt in the third quarter ended 30 September.

Shares in Schroders were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the asset management company said it had more than tripled its pre-tax profit in the nine month period ending 30 September.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after Barclays issued a third quarter statement with "conflicting messages".

Shares in Associated British Foods were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, despite the group reporting a "record year", with both revenue and pre-tax profit rising by double digit figures.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite the group reporting a rise in sales and pre-tax profit in the half year period ended 2 October.

Shares in Vodafone were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the telecom giant's half year results due out tomorrow.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were up on the FTSE 100 ahead of the group's half year results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in Barclays were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the bank's third quarter interim statement, expected tomorrow.

Trading of shares Rok has been suspended on the FTSE All Share after the building company announced this morning that it would be going into administration.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following good jobs data from the US last Friday.

Shares in G4S were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the security company said that overall revenues grew 5.6 per cent in the first nine months of the year.

Shares in Carphone Warehouse were up after the group more than trebled its post-tax profit in the half year period ended 30 September.

Aer Lingus said has said that it has seen a strong performance in the third quarter ended 30 September.

Shares in Smith & Nephew were up on the FTSE 100 after the medical technology company reported a rise in revenue and trading profit in its third quarter period.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 after RBS and HSBC issued their third quarter statements today.

Shares in Invensys were up on the FTSE 100 after the engineering and IT company reported a rise in revenue in the half year period ended 30 September 2010.

Shares in Man Group were up on the FTSE 100 after the investment group reported better than expected pre-tax profit for the half year period ended 30 September 2010.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following news that the U.S. Federal Reserve will be embarking on another stimulus in a bid to strengthen economic recovery.

Shares in Unilever were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading, ahead of the consumer goods company's third quarter results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group were up on the FTSE 100 ahead of the group's third quarter results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in AstraZeneca were down on the FTSE 100 ahead of the pharmaceutical giant's third quarter results, due out tomorrow.