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UK stocks surged in early trading on Wednesday, paring Tuesday's steep losses, after home builder Barrett Developments and IT services group Computacenter released pleasing earnings updates.
At 0828, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 83.1 points, or 1.4%, at 5,945.15, having shed 1.7% on Tuesday.
Barrett Developments gained 5.6% to 531.85p, even as it scrapped a planned special dividend as first-half profit slumped 46%.
Barrett Developments also announced that net reservations had improved markedly from the start of July, as had its forward sales position..
Computacenter, meanwhile, jumped 6.6% to £21.48 on guiding for annual performance 'materially above' management's expectations.
Elsewhere, budget carrier Ryanair dropped 0.7% to 11.76c, having carried 53% less passengers in August on-month.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air descended 0.2% to £37.3488, as its passenger volumes in August dropped 41%.
Budget fitness centre company Gym Group shed 0.3% to 156.38p as it swung to a first-half loss after coronavirus restrictions forced the temporary closure of all its outlets.
Gym Group said membership numbers had bounced back to 676k at the end of August, having slumped from 891kon 29 February to 658k on 25 July. It said it needed around 520k for cash-flow break-even.
Auto dealer Pendragon revved 3.9% higher to 8.31p on unveiling a strategy revamp that would see it pursue 'further cost base efficiencies' and beef up its digital capabilities.
Pendragon said it was aiming for the overhaul to generate underlying profits of £85m-to-£90 by the 2025 financial year.
IT services provider Redcentric jumped 7.0% to 152p, having initiated 'limited' discussions with potential acquirers of the company.
Redcentric said it was in talks with Macquarie Principal Finance, UK Branch and Six Degrees Holdings.
Workwear and textile company Johnson Service added 4.3% to 108.28p, despite pledging not to pay a dividend this year this year after swinging to a first-half loss.
Mass spectrometry instruments developer Microsaic Systems rallied 9.8% to 0.55p even as it, too, posted a first-half loss, as revenue fell thanks to the Covid-19 crisis.
Microsaic Systems said a formal sale process first mentioned in July had kicked off last month, with potential interested parties having been contacted by the company and its advisers.
Specialist wealth manager and employee benefits group Mattioli Woods firmed 2.4% to 719p, as it posted a 37% rise in annual profit after costing cutting helped boost margins and revenue inched higher.
Mattiolio Woods trimmed its final dividend to 12.7p per share, down from 13.67p, giving a total dividend for the year of 20.0p, which was flat on-year.
Immunodiagnostics group Oncimmune gained 7.0% to 156.8p on signing an autoantibody profiling collaboration with 'a leading global biopharmaceutical company' that it did not name.