Commodities prices improved on Thursday, buoying the share prices of some blue-chip miners and oil stocks, including Randgold, Vedanta, Amec, BP and BG Group.

United Utilities was higher after saying that it has seen a marked improvement in customer satisfaction in the last year or so, and it is on track to meet regulatory out-performance targets.

Oil titan Shell was another strong riser after extending the offer deadline for AIM-listed Cove Energy after its previously recommended offer was trumped by Thai firm PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) on Wednesday.

ARM Holdings was also up after Peel Hunt has reiterated its buy recommendation and 650p target price for chip designer, saying that the stock is a ‘must-have’ following its investor day yesterday.

FTSE 100 – Risers
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,170.00p +8.00%
Vedanta Resources (VED) 991.50p +4.20%
BP (BP.) 407.95p +3.57%
Prudential (PRU) 687.00p +3.54%
Wolseley (WOS) 2,278.00p +3.22%
BG Group (BG.) 1,268.00p +3.13%
Barclays (BARC) 186.00p +3.05%
Amec (AMEC) 1,004.00p +2.92%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 638.00p +2.90%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 495.70p +2.76%

FTSE 100 – Fallers
Evraz (EVR) 304.80p -1.87%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 238.30p -1.24%
Rexam (REX) 394.30p -1.23%
IMI (IMI) 895.50p -1.00%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,026.00p -0.58%
Man Group (EMG) 72.70p -0.55%
GKN (GKN) 183.20p -0.49%
Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,366.00p -0.22%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 3,389.00p -0.06%

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