London shares claw back losses2007-04-19 19:00:27

Copper itself fell for a second consecutive day in London.

The banks eased on interest-rate jitters, HBOS down 9 at 1068, Lloyds TSBdown 4.5 at 577.5.

Ahead of results in the sector next week, pharma stocks rallied, GlaxoSmithKline was up 21 at 1480, AstraZeneca up 38 at 2918.

EMI showed liveliness late in the session, rising 11 to 236.75 on mbo talk at 275p a share.

On a modest rise in Q1 sales, Prudential. Britain's second-largest insurer said group insurance sales for the quarter totalled £640 million, up 1% on last year. Shares rose 11.5 to 745

WH Smith reported a 6% drop in first half like-for-like sales - growth in its stores at train stations and airports cushioned weaker high street sales. Smith has done a deal with the Royal Mail to operate Post Offices in 70 of its stores. WH Smith on the day up 11.75 at 443.75

Cancer drug researcher Antisoma rose 5.25 to 57.75 on news Novartis AG, the world's fourth largest drugmaker, will pay 75 million now and up to 705 million linked to regulatory approvals and sales performance for a drug abandoned by Roche.

Among housebuilders, Bellway dipped 64 to 1570 as ABN Amro changed its recommendation to "hold" from "buy".

And Persimmon was down 26 at 1404 on news that year- to-date sales match year-earlier levels, with only a moderate gain in selling prices.

Dublin-based Experian, the credit information group, has bought online data analyst Hitwise for 240 million. Experian down 4 at 589.

A profits warning at Sovereign Oilfield Group

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2007-04-19 19:00:27 © Moneyextra.com