Computacenter, Provident Financial and Air Partner

“The FTSE100 opened in positive territory with Provident Financial leading the pack after making some management changes,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Computacenter's shares jumped following a strong first half and the group is on course for a record full-year performance. Revenues rose by 15% £1.7billion and statutory pre-tax profits more than doubled to £47.5m. The majority of the group’s profit growth came from improved operational performance, with some help from currency movements. It also benefited from a comparison with what was a weaker trading performance in the first half of the prior year, whereas the comparison for the second half of 2017 is challenging. But it remains on track for a record performance and is marginally ahead of revised forecasts. Computacenter's shares were up by 19.3%

“Doorstep lender Provident Financial led the blue-chip board in early trading after executive chairman Manjit Wolstenholme began a review of the business and appointed a new head of the home credit business. The group lost two-thirds of its value on Tuesday after it issued its second profit warning in three months. Bargain hunters were quick to respond to Wolstenholme’s initial changes in the management structure of the consumer credit division as she attempts to stabilise the business and put a plan in place that will deliver good results for the company. Provident Financial’s shares were up by more than 6.4%.

“Air Partner was an early riser after it forecast higher first half profits. The group expects underlying pre-tax profits to be not less than £4.0m compared with £3.0m last time. Air Partner is on track to meet its full-year forecasts but the charter business is a volatile industry and the group remains cautious. Air Partner’s shares were up by over 1.2%.”

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