The FTSE 100 hit a new all-time high amid a flurry of major corporate updates.
It rose as high as 8,455 in early trading, but then fell again to 8,445.80, which was still 0.2 percent, or 17.67 points, higher. The Footsie is up almost 10 percent this year.
And the FTSE 250 also rose: 0.8 per cent, or 157.11 points, to 20,775.63. Experian paved the way for blue-chip companies after an excellent year for the credit rating agency.
Revenue rose 6 per cent to £5.6 billion in the 12 months to March 31 and is forecast to rise between 6 per cent and 8 per cent next year. The shares soared 8.1 per cent, or 282 pence, to 3,752 pence.
Imperial Brands said higher tobacco prices helped its cigarettes and vaporizers division report its biggest revenue growth in more than a decade.
Rising high: In another record day on the stock market, it rose as high as 8,455 in early trading
The owner of brands such as Golden Virginia and Rizla said tobacco prices rose 8.6 percent in the six months to the end of March. It gained 5.8 per cent, or 108 pence, to 1,975.5 pence.
Energy services provider Hunting has secured a £115m contract, its largest ever, with Kuwait Oil Company to supply pipe products used in oil and gas production.
The deal has lifted its order book to a record £527m, while annual profit should now sit at the upper end of the £99m to £107m range.
The shares rose 18.9 per cent, or 70.5p, to 443p.
Another group to rise was specialist geotechnical engineering Keller Group, which rose 21.1 per cent, or 240p, to 1,376p.
The company, which has worked on the HS2 rail link in the UK, recorded a good first four months of the year.
Soft drinks business Britvic rose 11 per cent or 100.5 pence to 1,018 pence as it cashed in on sales of Pepsi Max and Lipton in the first half to the end of March and announced a third share buyback program of up to 75 million of pounds sterling.
Stock Watch – Abingdon Health
York firm Abingdon Health, which makes lateral flow kits, has teamed up with Boots to launch the world’s first automated saliva pregnancy test.
It said the product, which will be sold under the retailer’s own brand range, is a new way of testing for pregnancy and comes after Abingdon launched two Boots-branded self-tests to detect iron and vitamin D deficiency in March.
The stock rose 10.3 per cent, or 1p, to 10.75p, but is well below its high of almost 126p in January 2021.
Danni Hewson, analyst at AJ Bell, said: ‘London’s blue-chip index has continued to break records thanks to impressive upgrades from the likes of Experian and Imperial.
UK-listed companies are proving that they are not just cheap targets for bargain hunters, but real value propositions. Midcaps, which have also not felt appreciated, are showing their class.”
Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, raised its annual profit forecast after a strong first half. Profits, which rose 18.7 per cent to £1.16bn, are expected to grow by up to 15 per cent this year. Bu shares sank 3 per cent or 69 pence to 2,252 pence.
Harland and Wolff fell 14.7 per cent, or 1.73 pence, to 10.02 pence amid fears it could face closure following a dispute with the Government over its future.
Investors remained concerned about political unrest in Georgia after protesters stormed parliament. TBC Bank slumped 14.2 per cent, or 420 pence, to 2,530 pence, while Bank of Georgia fell 13 per cent, or 615 pence, to 4,105 pence.
Travel company Tui posted record sales in the second quarter. Revenue rose 16 per cent to £3.1bn and 2.8 million customers travelled, an increase of 14 per cent. The shares fell 1.6 per cent, or 9.5 pence, to 591 pence.
Car dealer Vertu Motors accelerated 3 per cent, or 2.3p, to 78.4p to end its financial year on a high as it posted record sales as prices stabilised. Revenue rose by almost a fifth to £4.72bn.