FTSE gains slightly
The FTSE 100 rallied by 0.41% on Wednesday Getty Images

The FTSE 100 has rallied on the back of weaker than expected job numbers from the US with equipment rental firm Ashtead leading the way while index giants Glencore and BP slumped into the red.

Overall the UK's leading companies were also buoyed by positive construction data on home soil after purchasing managers' index for UK construction climbed to 57.3 last month from 57.1 in July. Anything over 50 indicates expansion in the sector. The FTSE closed up 24.77 points (0.41%) at 6083.31.

In the US, there were less private sector jobs created in August than first thought. Employers added 190,000 roles to the pay list, which was revised down from 200,000. The news could delay Janet Yellen's mooted increase in the US interest rate.

The FTSE's star performer was industrial equipment rental firm Ashtead, whose shares rose by 7.74% after it posted first quarter pre-tax profits of £155m, up 23%. Giants Glencore and BP slumped into the red, down 8% and 1.1% respectively while shares in the Aim 100-listed online fashion retailer Asos were down 84p to £29 - or the price of a tshirt in its current sale - at the end of trading after chief Nick Robertson announced he would step down.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

Ashtead Group +71.00 +7.74% 988.00
Hikma Pharmaceuticals +97.00 +4.36% 2,322.00
Inmarsat +32.00 +3.31% 998.50
3i Group +13.50 +2.94% 472.70
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA +14.50 +2.75% 542.50

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Glencore -10.70 -8.01% 122.80
Randgold Resources -96.00 -2.45% 3,830.00
CRH -23.00 -1.22% 1,857.00
G4S -3.00 -1.19% 248.80
BP -4.10 -1.17% 345.30

FTSE AIM 100 biggest risers

Benchmark Holdings +4.50 +5.20% 91.00
M P Evans Group +13.25 +3.52% 389.50
Amerisur Resources +0.75 +2.88% 26.75
Telit Communications +9.75 +2.88% 348.25
Restore +5.00 +2.06% 247.50

FTSE AIM 100 biggest fallers

Petroceltic International -4.00 -6.56% 57.00
Ithaca Energy -1.25 -3.45% 35.00
Asos -84.00 -2.82% 2,900.00
Quindell -2.50 -2.42% 101.00
Polar Capital Holdings -9.50 -2.39% 388.50

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