Henry Boot, InterContinental Hotels and Interserve

“Blue-chips opened the last trading day of the week on the front foot with investors focussing on company fundamentals rather than being distracted by the ongoing Brexit talks taking place in Brussels,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.

“Construction and property development group Henry Boot was one of the biggest FTSE All-Share risers after forecasting that full-year results would be materially ahead of previous expectations. Trading since the group’s first half results were announced in August has continued to be very strong across all its business segments, in particular, within property development and land promotion. Henry Boot has also completed a number of major deals earlier than anticipated. The group’s shares were up by more than 7.3% in early trading.

“InterContinental Hotels Group’s shares edged down in early trading despite a good third quarter with a 2.3% increase in revenue per available room and net room growth of 4.1%, which was its strongest since 2010. IHG remains confident about the outlook for the rest of the year but it is the macro-economic and geopolitical uncertainties that the group faces around the world which continue to weigh on investor sentiment. IHG’s shares were down by 0.7%.

“Interserve’s shares, which plunged by around 27%, recovered some ground in early trading as the group clinched a five-year contract worth £227m with the Department for Work and Pensions. Interserve will provide the DWP estate with mechanical, electrical and building maintenance. It will also provide cleaning, catering, waste disposal, removal and secure destruction of confidential waste services to over 700 buildings. Interserve’s shares were up by more than 12.6%.”

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