COMPANIES

Insurance company Lloyds of London said today that in 2010 it made a profit of £2.2 billion, despite the impact of "significant claims" resulting from natural disasters.

Shares in Dixons Retail dived on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the electrical retailing company issued a profit warning as a result of falling consumer confidence.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after an Irish bank suspended trading ahead of the results of a "stress test".

Shares in Bellway were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the housebuilder reported a rise in turnover and pre-tax profit in the half year ended 31 January.

Shares in easyJet were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline said it was entering a partnership with national tourism agency VisitBritain.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after some discouraging news from the banking sector in Italy.

Shares in Wolseley were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the plumbing goods supplier returned to profit in the first half of the year ended 31 January 2011.

Shares in Wolseley were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the group's half year results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in Stanley Gibbons were up on the FTSE AIM All Share in morning trading after the stamp and collectibles company reported a rise in sales and pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after Moody's hinted that Britain could lose its AAA credit rating.

Shares in Invensys were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, following sharp falls yesterday.

Shares in Kingfisher were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the group reported a strong rise in pre-tax profit in the full year 2010.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading following a report that the British government is considering selling its stakes in Lloyds Banking Group and RBS.

Shares in Next were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the group reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the year ended January 2011.

Shares in Kingfisher were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the group's preliminary results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in Next were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the retailer's full year results, expected tomorrow.

Budget airline easyJet has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor George Osborne that there will be no rise in air passenger duty.

Shares in Eurasian Natural Resources were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the mining company reported a doubling of post-tax profit in the full year 2010.

Shares in Sainsbury's were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the supermarket chain reported a rise in like for like sales in the full year ended 19 March 2011.

Shares in Punch Taverns were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the pub owner gave the conclusions of its strategic review, announced last October.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors continued to buy after last week's panic sell offs.

Shares in Centrica were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the energy company said its North American subsidiary, Direct Energy, would be acquiring energy retailer Gateway Energy Services Corporation for $90 million.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors started to regain their confidence after a spate of global events triggered panic selling.

Shares in Essar Energy were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, despite the Indian energy company reporting a rise in pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December.

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Shares in Manganese Bronze were flat on the FTSE AIM All Share after the maker of black cabs reported a fall in its losses before tax in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the G7 said it would take action to help the Yen, following the disaster which struck Japan a week ago and is still crippling the nation.

Shares in Jupiter Fund Management were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading, despite the group saying it had more than tripled its pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Premier Farnell were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the distribution group reported a strong rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the full year ended 30 January.