Halma (LSE: HLMA) and Galliford Try (LSE: GFRD) are both rising today.
The FTSE 100 (UKX) is enjoying another good day, climbing 40 points to reach 5,976. That's just 13 points short of its 52-week high of 5,989 points, and the index of top UK stocks could even break that today if the optimism continues.
Some individual constituents of the FTSE indices are on the way up as well today. Here are three whose prices are rising:
Halma
Shares in Halma (LSE: HLMA) perked up 5.4p (1.2%) to 452p on the news that the health and safety technology specialist has acquired MicroSurgical Technology Inc. The acquisition of MicroSurgical, which develops ophthalmic surgical products, was completed yesterday and cost an initial $57 million in cash, with up to an additional $43 million payable depending on future earnings.
Halma's shares have done well this year, and are currently around 35% up from this time in December 2011.
Galliford Try
Galliford Try (LSE: GFRD) shares gained 10p (1.4%) to reach 740p after the housebuilder confirmed the appointment of new finance director Graham Prothero, who will join the board on 1 February. But there was bad news, too, as group managing director Ian Baker has been forced to stand down due to "reasons of sudden ill-health" -- we wish him a speedy recovery.
Galliford Try's shares have surged along with the recovering housebuilding sector this year, and now stand more than 60% up on a year ago. And they're still not highly valued, on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of only 10.
Gulfsands
Gulfsands Petroleum (LSE: GPX) shares popped up 3p (2.5%) to 118p in morning trading after announcing an acquisition of oil and gas exploration interests in Morocco. The company will acquire Caithness Petroleum's Cabre Maroc subsidiary and its portfolio of concessions covering a 13,000 square kilometre area. Development and exploration activity is due to commence in early 2013.
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> Alan does not own any shares mentioned in this article.
