The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE) has regained 42 points today, taking it to 6,473 and back into positive territory for the week. After two losing weeks, the UK’s top index is currently just 19 points ahead so far, so it could easily end up going either way.
The boost today comes from growing convictions that at least a temporary deal will be reached in the US budget battle — but that’s pretty much inevitable, really.
We have some individual shares doing well today, on more concrete news. Here are three that look set to beat the FTSE:
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group announced the sale of its Australian operations this morning, and its share price responded with a modest 1p (1.2%) rise to 76p — it’s up around 90% over the past 12 months.
The deal, with Westpac Banking Corporation, should raise a total of about £0.9bn depending on exchange rates, and includes the sale of Capital Finance Australia and BOS International (Australia) among other operations.
The disposal will represent the bank’s withdrawal from Australia, and is part of its strategy of refocusing on the UK.
Anglo American
Good news for Anglo American (LSE: AAL) shareholders has not been thick on the ground of late, but there was a welcome boost today in the shape of progress at Anglo American Platinum.
The firm had initially proposed the loss of up to 14,000 jobs as part of its restructuring plans, but that led to industrial action, and we learn today it has been resolved. After consultation with the interested parties, the number of affected jobs has been reduced to approximately 6,900, with the company saying it should still achieve its efficiency objectives.
The share price gained 32p (2.2%) as a result to reach 1,508p.
XP Power
For big gains today we need to look to smaller caps, and there we see a 146p (10.3%) gain for XP Power (LSE: XPP), taking its share price to 1,556p and up nearly 70% over the past 12 months.
The manufacturer of power supplies and related equipment has enjoyed an 11% rise in revenue in its third quarter, with revenue for the nine months to 30 September up 7%. And with order intake higher, the momentum should continue into the final quarter to produce a “modest sequential improvement in revenues for the second half as a whole“.
Debt has also fallen, from £10.6m a year previously to £6m, and there will be a third-quarter dividend of 13p per share making a total of 36p so far. Analysts are expecting 54p for the full year, for a 3.9% yield.