UK energy stocks, including BP Plc and Shell Transport & Trading Co, climbed after oil reached a new high as worsening violence in Iraq threatened to disrupt supplies.
WPP Group Plc, the world's second-largest advertising and marketing company, declined after saying "concerns remain" about economic growth in the US next year.
The benchmark FTSE 100 added 6.60, or 0.2 percent, to 4,369.20 in London. The index rose 1.6 percent since last Friday, and posted its first weekly gain in three. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 2.83, or 0.1 percent, to 2,169.76.
"What's there not to like about oil stocks?" asked Richard Lewis, who oversees US$1 billion in European stocks at New Star Asset Management. "We like oil stocks. There are earnings upgrades coming through."
Crude-oil futures surpassed US$49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, on concern that fighting between US forces and followers of Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will cut shipments.
BP, Europe's biggest oil company, advanced 2.5 pence, or 0.5 percent, to 489.5
Shell, which owns 40 percent of Royal Dutch/Shell, added 5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 401. It also benefited from a broker upgrade after Merrill Lynch & Co advised investors to buy the stock, citing the possibility of future asset sales and planned investments.
WPP, dropped 6.5 pence, or 1.3 percent, to 488 after Chief Executive Officer Martin Sorrell said "concerns remain" about prospects for the US economy after November's presidential elections. WPP got about 40 percent of its revenue from the US last year.
"WPP's outlook on consumer spending for 2005 is a bit disappointing," said Grahame Exton, part of a team managing the equivalent of about US$921 million at Tilney Investment Management in Liverpool, England.
The company earlier said first-half profit rose 11 percent, boosted by demand in the US and Asia.
"There's a hint of caution when you trawl through WPP's earnings statement," said Exton.
The following stocks made significant gains or losses in London. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name.
British Airways Plc, Europe's second-largest airline, slipped 1.5 pence, or 0.7 percent, to 212.25. The airline today resumed pay talks with unions as the carrier tries to avert strikes by 11,000 baggage handlers and check-in staff next week.
CMS WebView Plc, a real-time financial information provider, jumped 0.75 pence, or 12 percent, to 7. The company said the Chicago Board of Trade, the world's biggest market for Treasury futures, will extend a data agreement.
The Chicago exchange will use CMS's TDI software to distribute market data from the Kansas City Board of Trade and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, the company said.
FirstGroup Plc, the UK's second-largest bus and train company, added 2.5 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 297.25 after it signed a seven-year contract to run the Scottish Passenger Rail franchise.
Quanta Computer Inc (廣達) chairman Barry Lam (林百里) is expected to share his views about the artificial intelligence (AI) industry’s prospects during his speech at the company’s 37th anniversary ceremony, as AI servers have become a new growth engine for the equipment manufacturing service provider. Lam’s speech is much anticipated, as Quanta has risen as one of the world’s major AI server suppliers. The company reported a 30 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated revenue to NT$1.41 trillion (US$43.35 billion) last year, thanks to fast-growing demand for servers, especially those with AI capabilities. The company told investors in November last year that
Intel Corp has named Tasha Chuang (莊蓓瑜) to lead Intel Taiwan in a bid to reinforce relations between the company and its Taiwanese partners. The appointment of Chuang as general manager for Intel Taiwan takes effect on Thursday, the firm said in a statement yesterday. Chuang is to lead her team in Taiwan to pursue product development and sales growth in an effort to reinforce the company’s ties with its partners and clients, Intel said. Chuang was previously in charge of managing Intel’s ties with leading Taiwanese PC brand Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), which included helping Asustek strengthen its global businesses, the company
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