London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 8,272.80 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
JD Sports was among the gainers after US sportswear retailer Lululemon lifted its profit outlook. Lululemon shares were up just over 3% after it said on Wednesday that full-year earnings per share were set to come in at between $14.27 and $14.47, up from a previous forecast of between $14 and $14.20.
Going the other way, Vodafone, WPP, National Grid and Sainsburys all lost ground as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.
Online supermarket Ocado was also in the red after getting demoted from the top-flight index.
FTSE 100 – Risers
Sage Group (SGE) 1,065.50p 2.60%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 462.80p 2.10%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 128.60p 1.82%
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 55.58p 1.53%
Diageo (DGE) 2,696.00p 1.49%
Prudential (PRU) 761.80p 1.47%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 834.20p 1.46%
NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 316.90p 1.44%
Fresnillo (FRES) 584.50p 1.21%
Beazley (BEZ) 680.50p 1.19%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
Vodafone Group (VOD) 71.92p -6.16%
WPP (WPP) 769.60p -4.59%
National Grid (NG.) 866.20p -3.93%
easyJet (EZJ) 474.40p -2.65%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 266.80p -2.63%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 355.50p -1.85%
Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI) (SKG) 3,750.00p -1.47%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,948.00p -1.42%
Croda International (CRDA) 4,311.00p -1.21%
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 500.80p -1.14%