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The FTSE 100 did not reproduce yesterday's gains at the open, dropping by 24 points to 6,913.81. Yesterday the index ended up 43 higher up at 6,938, while the FTSE 250 gained 279 points.
Today, market data on the performance of retail sales in March is expected and is likely to report acceleration in growth.
Oil and gas exploration company Baron Oil said it had completed its earn-in for an increased stake in the Chuditch discovery and prospects.
Baron increased its shareholding in SundaGas from 33.33% to 85%, and thereby increased its indirect stake in the TL-SO-19-16 PSC, the Chuditch project, offshore Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste from 25% to 63.75%. The firm opened strongly, up 10% to 0.11p.
Podcast company Audioboom said it expected annual revenue to 'significantly' top market expectations as strong sales momentum continued, reflected in a positive opening to 740p before setting at 730p per share.
Real Estate company LondonMetric Property said it had sold two assets let to M&S and Wickes in Derby for a combined consideration of £11.1 million at a blended NIY of 6.0% and a 7% surplus to the last reported book value.
Public transport company FirstGroup said it had entered into an agreement to sell its First Student and First Transit businesses to EQT Infrastructure for £3.3 billion.
The company proposed to return about £365 million of the proceeds, about 30 pence per share, to shareholders during the current calendar year, driving an opening share price of 96.85p, up almost 14%.
Investment fund Fidelity Special Values reported a rise in total returns that was 'significantly' ahead of its benchmark in the first half of the year thanks to a jump in value stocks.
For six month period to 28 February 2021, net asset value total return of 24.3% and a share price total return of 36.5%, compared to a total return of 12.0% for the FTSE All-Share Index, the company's benchmark index.
Commercial property investment firm UK Commercial Property REIT Limited has reported a net loss for the year of £10.3 million, a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its share price subsequently fell slightly to 75.5p.
Restaurant operator Fulham Shore said it is targeting new locations for its restaurants following 'very encouraging' sales since reopening.
'Group sales in the week ended Sunday 18 April 2021 were very encouraging, being not only ahead of the previous week, but also ahead of the same week two years ago in April 2019,' the company said.