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Royal Mail leads FTSE 100 higher Royal Mail leads FTSE 100 higher
(about 4 hours later)
(Open): The FTSE 100 opened higher as investors awaited news of an expected eurozone stimulus package, while Royal Mail shares rose after its latest trading update. (Noon): The FTSE 100 rose ahead of the expected announcement of a eurozone stimulus package, while Royal Mail shares rose after its latest trading update.
Royal Mail climbed 3.6% after it said parcel volumes during December were up 4%, while group revenues rose 1% in the nine months to 28 December. Royal Mail shares climbed 4.5% after it said parcel volumes during December were up 4%, while group revenues rose 1% in the nine months to 28 December.
The benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 20.32 points to 6,748.36. The benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 30.69 points to 6,758.73.
Balfour Beatty shares fell 2.8% after it issued another profit warning. Balfour Beatty shares rose 2.6% despite it issuing another profit warning.
It said profit for 2014 at its construction business would be £70m lower than expected. The accountants KPMG have been reviewing Balfour's construction business and found that it had been bidding with "optimistic assumptions". The company said profit for 2014 at its construction business would be £70m lower than expected. The accountants KPMG have been reviewing Balfour's construction business and found that it had been bidding with "optimistic assumptions".
In the FTSE 250, shares in Oxford Instruments plunged by 26% after it said it expected full-year profits to fall by more than a quarter because of poor trading in Russia and Japan. Shares in Oxford Instruments plunged by nearly 30% after it said it expected full-year profits to fall by more than a quarter because of poor trading in Russia and Japan.
The maker of nanotechnology tools now expects adjusted full-year pre-tax profits of £35m, against £47.1m a year earlier.The maker of nanotechnology tools now expects adjusted full-year pre-tax profits of £35m, against £47.1m a year earlier.
Oxford Instruments said its trading in Russia had been hit by the recent sanctions.Oxford Instruments said its trading in Russia had been hit by the recent sanctions.
"We now assume that no sales can be made to Russia for the remainder of this year and we are also assuming no sales to Russia next year," the company said."We now assume that no sales can be made to Russia for the remainder of this year and we are also assuming no sales to Russia next year," the company said.
All eyes will be on the European Central Bank (ECB) later, as it is widely expected to announce a huge stimulus package for the eurozone.All eyes will be on the European Central Bank (ECB) later, as it is widely expected to announce a huge stimulus package for the eurozone.
Reports suggest the ECB could purchase government bonds worth up to €50bn (£38bn) a month until the end of 2016.Reports suggest the ECB could purchase government bonds worth up to €50bn (£38bn) a month until the end of 2016.
On the currency markets, the pound edged up 0.06% against the dollar to $1.5153 and was 0.16% higher against the euro at €1.3063. On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.23% against the dollar to $1.5179 and was 0.08% higher against the euro at €1.3053.