By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Aggreko PLC led the London benchmark
higher on Thursday after a well-received earnings report, while
investors also awaited the latest policy decision from the Bank of
England.
The FTSE 100 index added 0.4% to 6,452.79, climbing back from a
0.1% decline on Wednesday.
Shares of temporary-power provider Aggreko jumped 10%, after the
firm reported a rise in full-year pretax profit and affirmed the
outlook for 2013. See: Aggreko '12 year pretax net up; outlook
affirmed
IMI PLC shares picked up 5.8%. The engineering group declared an
8% increase in the full-year dividend and said it plans to buy back
175 million pounds ($263.64 million) of its stock over the next 12
months. See: IMI '12 pretax net up; payout lifted; buyback set
Global asset-management company Schroders PLC gained 1.8%, as it
raised dividends for the full year to 43 pence from 39 pence in
2011. It also posted a decline in revenue and pretax profit. See:
Schroders '12 pretax profit off 12%; dividend up
Also among notable gainers in London, shares of insurance firm
Standard Life PLC rose 1.4%. The company posted a rise in full-year
profit amid improvement in the U.K. business. See: Standard Life
net higher; proposes special payout
For another insurer, Aviva PLC the trading day looked less rosy,
with its shares falling 12%. The firm reported a total loss after
tax of GBP3.05 billion and cut its full-year dividend to 19 pence
from 26 pence. See: Aviva '12 operating net off 10%; dividend
reduced
Later in the day, the spotlight turns to the Bank of England,
when it concludes its monthly monetary-policy meeting. No changes
to policy are expected, although some analysts have said the
possibility of an increase in the bank's asset-purchase program is
higher on the back of the latest meeting, where three members voted
for a liquidity boost.
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