UTILITIES

Shares in Wolseley were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the group's half year results, expected tomorrow.

Budget airline easyJet has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor George Osborne that there will be no rise in air passenger duty.

Shares in Manganese Bronze were flat on the FTSE AIM All Share after the maker of black cabs reported a fall in its losses before tax in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Premier Farnell were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the distribution group reported a strong rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the full year ended 30 January.

Shares in G4S were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite the security firm reporting a rise in turnover and pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in G4S were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the security company's full year results, expected tomorrow.

BAA, the owner of, among others, Heathrow and Stanstead airports reported a decline in passenger numbers in February.

Shares in Aggreko were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon after the generator rental company reported record profits for 2010, but added that unrest in the Middle East added significant uncertainty to its outlook for 2011.

Shares in Costain were up on the FTSE All Share in morning trading after the construction group reported a rise in pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Ashtead Group were up on the FTSE 250 after the equipment rental company reported a rise in revenue and sharp fall in its losses in the third quarter ended 31 January 2011.

Shares in Antofagasta were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the mining company reported a rise in revenue and net earnings in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Cobham were up on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading after the defence company reported a rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in GKN were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading despite the engineering company reporting a return to profit in the year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Fresnillo were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the mining group reported a more than doubling of pre-tax profit in 2010.

Budget airline easyJet today said that it would be launching a "major expansion" of its operations in Scotland, by introducing a fifth aircraft to serve Edinburgh airport and upgrading one of its four planes currently flying from Glasgow airport.

BAA, the owner of Heathrow and Stansted airports, reported another loss in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Royal Dutch Shell were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the energy giant said it would selling most of its shareholding in its downstream business in Africa for around a billion dollars.

Shares in Redrow were down on the FTSE 250 in afternoon trading despite the group saying it had returned to profit in the half year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in BAE Systems were flat on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the defence group announced weak growth in revenue and EBITA in the full year 2010.

Shares in BAE Systems were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the defence company's full year results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in easyJet were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline said it is the first commercial airline to trial "revolutionary nano-technology coating" on its aircraft.

Shares in Rolls Royce were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the engine manufacturer said it had been awarded a $2.2 billion TotalCare deal from Emirates Airline.

Shares in Carillion were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the construction company said it had agreed terms to acquire green outsourcing company Eaga.

Shares in Rolls Royce were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the engine manufacturer reported a rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the full year 2010.

Shares in Rio Tinto were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading despite the mining group reporting record underlying earnings and a slashing of its net debt in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in Rolls Royce were up on the FTSE 100 ahead of the engine maker's full year results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in St. Modwen Properties were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the company said it had returned to profitability in the full year ended 30 November 2010.

Shares in easyJet were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the budget airline said it had reached an "important milestone" in passenger numbers.

Shares in AMEC were up on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading after the engineering company said it had secured a £140 million deal with BG Group.