FTSE 100 movers: Sage Group jumps after confident update

22nd Jan 2014 15:14

Software company Sage Group rose strongly after it said it is trading in line with expectations, with growth across all regions.The firm expects to meet a target for a 6% increase in revenue in 2015 following impressive results in the period from October 1st to date, according to a trading update published this morning. Numis Securities gave Admiral a lift after it upgraded the stock to 'buy', saying that it sees further upside for car insurance stocks as confidence in earnings, dividends and growth improves.BHP Billiton, the largest mining company in the world, climbed after it maintained its full-year guidance for petroleum, copper, iron ore and coal production after a 'strong operating performance' in its first half. Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie said that iron ore and metallurgical coal output were particularly robust during the period as BHP's productivity continued to improve.Johnson Matthey shares rose after HSBC upped its target price on the stock from 3,450p to 3,750p. William Hill extended yesterday's heavy losses which came after JPMorgan Cazenove expressed concerns about potential regulatory restrictions on machine gaming, which it said could result in "material downgrades and significant shop closures" at the bookmaker.RBS was lower after UBS downgraded the stock from 'neutral' to 'sell', saying that the current share price already discounts much of the progress expected to be made from restructuring over the next 18 months. As such, it believes there is a "risk of underperformance even if management outperforms business targets".RSA Insurance group was another significant faller, with a downgrade from HSBC yesterday helping to push the stock lower. FTSE 100 - RisersSage Group (SGE) 425.60p +3.03%Admiral Group (ADM) 1,456.00p +2.90%Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,434.00p +2.35%Hammerson (HMSO) 533.50p +1.62%London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 1,849.00p +1.59%Standard Life (SL.) 389.60p +1.48%Melrose Industries (MRO) 317.90p +1.34%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 436.90p +1.27%Tullow Oil (TLW) 900.50p +1.24%ARM Holdings (ARM) 1,003.00p +1.21%FTSE 100 - FallersWilliam Hill (WMH) 345.00p -2.93%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 349.70p -2.59%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 100.20p -1.96%BG Group (BG.) 1,316.00p -1.94%Mondi (MNDI) 975.00p -1.81%Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,828.00p -1.61%Prudential (PRU) 1,315.00p -1.35%SABMiller (SAB) 3,045.50p -1.31%SSE (SSE) 1,323.00p -1.27%BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,831.50p -1.24%NR