FTSE 100 movers: Imperial Brands rallies; Weir goes ex-div

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was up 0.5% at 7,451.95 in afternoon trade on Thursday. Tobacco giant Imperial Brands gained after saying it will buy back a further £1.1bn in shares as it announced it was on track to hit forecasts this year. British American Tobacco also rose.

IAG was on the front foot following a report that British Airways is on the of a brink of a long-term pay deal with its pilots aimed at removing the renewed threat of strike action until at least 2027.

According to Sky News, BA - which is owned by IAG - was applying the finishing touches to an agreement with pilots union BALPA on Thursday morning.

The three-and-a-half year deal, which has been the subject of months of negotiation, expected to secure the agreement of BALPA, which would then ballot its members on the proposed deal.

Oil giant BP fell following a sharp drop in the price of Brent crude on Wednesday.

Weir lost ground as it traded without entitlement to the dividend.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Imperial Brands (IMB) 1,641.50p 3.89% Tesco (TSCO) 281.00p 3.80% Compass Group (CPG) 2,055.00p 2.19% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 154.40p 2.08% Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,828.00p 2.03% Barratt Developments (BDEV) 418.40p 2.02% Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,063.00p 1.93% Frasers Group (FRAS) 802.50p 1.90% British American Tobacco (BATS) 2,510.00p 1.89% B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 560.60p 1.85%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Anglo American (AAL) 2,107.50p -1.59% JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 142.05p -1.56% Endeavour Mining (EDV) 1,488.00p -1.20% BP (BP.) 495.25p -0.84% Airtel Africa (AAF) 119.30p -0.83% Barclays (BARC) 152.74p -0.74% Glencore (GLEN) 440.50p -0.63% Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 42.20p -0.61% Weir Group (WEIR) 1,833.50p -0.52% SSE (SSE) 1,501.50p -0.43%