Morning Markets: Encouraging trading updates lend early support

Share prices present a quietly firm appearance as dealers digest a raft of important corporate trading statements, while waiting the outcome of tomorrow's Federal Reserve announcement on monetary easing and the result of the US mid-term elections.

By 8.35am the FTSE 100 index was up 18 points at 5,713, while the Mid-250 index was flat at 10,875.

Reckitt Benckiser stood out with a 68p jump to £35.93 as net revenue exceeded market expectations, while favourable updates also benefited Aviva at 406p, BG Group £12.35, BP 430p, Imperial Tobacco £20.26 and Lloyds 70p, up 0.16p to 24p.

Weir Group recovered 7p to £15.44 on further consideration of yesterday's figures.

Miners were firmer for choice under the lead of Xstrata at £12.65, up 11p and Kazakhmys, 11p better at £13.60.

Serco Group shed another 4p to 582.5p as it back-tracked over its demand for suppliers' cash rebate.

Positive broker comment lent support to RPS Group at 213p, Mondi 521p and Daily Mail 552p, all around 7p firmer.

St James's Place hardened 4p to 278p following a 30% increase in new business, but Rightmove declined 17p to 769p in spite of a confident statement and possible share buy-backs.

Among the small-caps Arden Partners rose 3.5p to 7.95p on news that recent trade was better than expected and African Aura gained 8p to 158p on receiving good results at its Liberian gold project.