FTSE

Shares in Hays were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading despite the recruitment company reporting a rise in net fees in the third quarter ended 31 March.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading following the news that Portugal has asked for a bailout from the European Union.

Shares in Halfords were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading after the retailer reported a rise in sales in the full year ended 1 April 2011.

Shares in Halfords were up on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading ahead of the auto-parts retailer's pre-close update, expected tomorrow.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors continued to show optimism about the state of the global economic recovery.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the retailer reported a rise in sales in the fourth quarter ended 2 April 2011.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the retailer's fourth quarter update, expected tomorrow.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as positive signs about the global economic recovery started to be outweighed by more immediate concerns.

Shares in HMV were down on the FTSE All Share after the retailer issued a profit warning in which it said pre-tax profit for the full year would be around £30 million.

Shares in BP were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the energy giant said it would be selling off its wholly-owned subsidiary ARCO Aluminum Inc. to a Japanese consortium.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as some encouraging signs about the state of the global economy vied in the minds of investors with Japanese and European worries.

Shares in Vodafone were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the telecommunications company said it was selling its 44 per cent stake in SFR to Vivendi for £6.8 billion.

Shares in Marks & Spencer were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the retailer said it would be returning to France before Christmas this year.

Shares in Taylor Wimpey were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the housebuilder said yesterday it would be selling its North American business for $955 million.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of key U.S. employment data, due later today.

Shares in 3i Group were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the private equity company issued a trading update on its financial year ended 31 March 2011.

Shares in Compass Group were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the company said it had a "good first half" year ended 31March.

Shares in TUI Travel were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the company issued a trading update ahead of its interim statement for the six months ended 31 March.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of the results of "stress tests" on Irish banks.

Shares in Mothercare were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the group said it was cautious about the coming year, despite seeing a rise in sales in the full year ended 26 March.

Shares in Compass Group were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the catering company's first half pre close trading update.

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.