Today's Top FTSE Movers

Published in Investing on 21 June 2012

Dixons (LSE: DXNS) and Micro Focus (LSE: MCRO) gain on results, but Anglo American (LSE: AAL) falls.

The FTSE 100 (UKX) fell back around 1% today, to end on 5,571 points. But that comes on top of a generally positive week, which benefited from some stronger-than-expected retail results.

There was plenty of individual share action too today, which ignores general index trends:

Some up...

Following Home Retail (LSE: HOME), which has gained 10p since its Tuesday results, to 84p, Dixons Retail (LSE: DXNS) also jumped on results day, putting on 1p, or 6.3%, to close on 17p today, after its figures came in better than expected.

Software house Micro Focus (LSE: MCRO) had a good day, ending 27.3p (6%) up on 479p, on a good set of results.

Ashtead Group (LSE: AHT), also got a nice boost from its results, up 3.4p for a 1.4% rise to 254p.

Sirius Petroleum (LSE: SRSP) gained 7% to 3.4p on a development update, and Shanta Gold (LSE: SHG) is up 10% to 22.2p after the successful commissioning of a new plant.

Tiny digital TV company Motive Television (LSE: MTV) gained 16% to 0.11p after being granted a patent in Spain. If the patent is extended to the whole EU, and even the USA, the company could strike it rich.

Some down...

Anglo American (LSE: AAL) lost 113p (5%) to 2,102p, due to general mining malaise. Other major miners also suffered, with BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) losing 56p for a 3% fall to 1,819p, Xstrata (LSE: XTA) falling 29p, or 3%, to 841p, and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) down 95p (3%) to 3,000p.

Some smaller ones suffered badly, too. Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP) slumped by 6.5p (11%) to 53p after announcing the mothballing of one of its mines, and tantalum miner Noventa (LSE: NVTA) tumbled 30% to 2.9p due to financing worries.

New World Oil & Gas (LSE: NEW) dropped 7% to 11p, despite a positive update on its Blue Creek Project.

The Invensys (LSE: ISYS) slump stabilised during the day to end 45p down (17%), on 212p, after the firm confirmed takeover bid talks but announced they had failed. That came after yesterday's late afternoon spike.

Go-Ahead Group (LSE: GOG) lost 23p (2%) to 1,196p after the travel operator released a reasonable looking pre-close update -- such are the vagaries of the market.

As always, today's news saw some winners and losers -- and perhaps some buying opportunities. For more share ideas, the Motley Fool's "Top Sectors For 2012" report outlines some attractive companies within three favourable industries. The report is free to all private investors -- and you can download your copy now.

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> Alan Oscroft does not own any share mentioned in this article.

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