FTSE

Shares in Randgold Resources fell on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading, despite the mining firm reporting a rise in quarterly and half year profit today.

Shares in defence company Cobham were down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 after the group reported a slight rise in pre-tax profit in the half year ended 30 June.

Shares in Aviva were on the FTSE 100 after the insurance giant reported a rise in pre-tax profit of 21 per cent in the first half of the year.

Unilever, the consumer goods giant and,maker of Dove soap and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream has outperformed itself after improving margins and sales up by 3.8 pct.

Shares in part nationalised banks Lloyds Banking Group and RBS were up in morning trading on the FTSE 100, while Barclays and HSBC declined.

Shares in Barclays were down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 despite the group reporting a rise in pre-tax profit of 44 per cent to £3.9 billion in the half year ended 30 June.

Shares in Barclays were down on the FTSE 100 ahead of the banking giant's first half results, which are due out tomorrow and are expected to show an increase in profits.

Lloyds share price is to close up after a bumper return to profits lifted its share price above 74 p.

British Land have fallen on the FTSE 100 today after first quarter performance was judged decidedly average by investors.

ITV, who announced ad revenues up 18 pct yesterday, are moving towards pay-TV according to new chief executive Adam Crozier - who is following News Corp in erecting a pay-wall over how its users interact with its online services.

Shares in Next plunged over seven per cent on the FTSE 100 after the retailer reported a rise in sales at the lower end of previous guidance and warned of tough times ahead as the government prepares to raise taxes and cut spending.

BP shares stopped their early declines on the FTSE 100 today after it was announced that BP has successfully prevented the oil well from leaking, around three months and five million barrels of oil after the explosion which ruptured the Macondo well, and sent oil streaming into the Gulf of Mexico.

Shares in British banks were broadly down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 this morning after Lloyds Banking Group and Standard Chartered reported their half year results.

Shares in Standard Chartered were down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 despite reporting a rise in pre-tax profit of 10 per cent in the half year ended 30 June 2010.

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group were up in morning trading on the FTSE 100 after the part-nationalised bank reported a bumper return to profit in the first half of the year.

Shares in BP rose on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading following the oil giant's announcement that it had agreed to sell its oil and gas production and transportation business in Colombia, the BP Exploration Company (Columbia) (BPXC).

Santander UK has successfully become the sole provider of Aviva life protection products after the two agreed a five year plan to sell insurance products via the company's 1,300 branches and telephone banking network.

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group were down on the FTSE 100 ahead of its half year results, due out tomorrow.

Shares in Xstrata were up on the FTSE 100 after the Swiss mining company said it had doubled its operating profit in the half year ended 30 June.

The changeover in Marks & Spencer's executive team has finally been completed today with the news Ian Dyson is to be replaced by former Wh Smith finance director, Alan Stewart.

Shares in ITV fell on the FTSE 250 in morning trading despite the broadcaster reporting a rise in net advertising revenue of 18 per cent.

Shares in British banks were broadly down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 following a strong session yesterday.

Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey has given the housebuilding sector a lift with an £80 million swing to profit after starting off the year well, with growth across the board.

Shares in Hammerson were up in morning trading on the FTSE 100 after the property development company returned to profit in the half year ended 30 June.

Shares in British banks were up in morning trading on the FTSE 100 following some strong results from HSBC and BNP Paribas and some good news last week for part-nationalised RBS.

Shares in HSBC were up in morning trading on the FTSE 100 after the bank posted a rise in pre-tax profit in the half year ended 30 June.

Shares in HSBC fell yesterday on the FTSE 100 following U.S. GDP results and ahead of first half results due to published in Monday.

AstraZeneca, BAT and Centrica are all featured in Friday's Broker Tips as we look at the companies starting A, B and C - it should be easy!

Electricite de France, EDF has sold its UK networks to a foreign buyer after FTSE 100 company, Scottish and Southern Electricity narrowly lost out to La Ka-Shing and his asian consortium.

Shares in British banks were broadly down in morning trading on the FTSE 100 ahead of second quarter GDP data due to be released this afternoon in the U.S.