Micro Focus

Evraz

The FTSE 100 has reversed earlier falls and is now trading marginally higher at 7,058.96.

Software developer Micro Focus saw its share price jump to the top of the leader board, up 7.9% at £14.11 after investment bank upgraded its stock to a "buy" recommendation.

Mining and commodity firms were the biggest fallers, led by Russian steel specialist Evraz, down 3.79% at 516.8p.

The sector was hit by concerns overslowing global economic growth and excess supply of crude oil.

The FTSE 250 is largely unchanged at 19,003.65.

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The FTSE 100 has reversed earlier falls and is now trading up 0.43% at 7,124.64.

Russian steelmaker and miner Evraz remains at the top of the blue chip risers and its share price is now up 5.6% at 578.7p, helped by rising steel prices in China.

Micro Focus' shares are also performing strongly, up 5.1% at £12.94 after the software developer said full-year sales would be at the top end of forecasts.

B&Q-owner Kingfisher saw its shares reach the top of the FTES 100 fallers, down 3.4% at 254p.

The FTSE 250 remains in the red, down 0.53% at 19,222.90. Insurer Hiscox remains the largest faller, down 7% at £13.31.

Let's take a look at shares in London.

Superdry is the second biggest loser on the FTSE 250.

Shares are down 20% after it issued a profit warning.

The FTSE 250 is off 0.58% at 18,863.34.

Micro Focus, the software developer which will publish a trading update on Thursday, is leading the FTSE 100 risers, up 2.2% at £13.92.

Defence giant BAE Systems is the biggest faller, down 1.8% at 573.2p.

The FTSE 100 is up 0.27% at 7,015.02.

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Antofagasta is leading the FTSE 100 fallers on Tuesday morning after the copper miner's share price fell 4.2% to 911.4p when it revealed a 16% fall in interim profits.

Shares in software developer Micro Focus led the blue chip risers, up 1.6% at £12.64.

The FTSE 100 is up 0.13% to 7,652.65.

Card Factor, which recently issued a profit warning, is the largest faller on the FTSE 250, down 4.4% at 178.85p after investment bank Berenberg cut its guidance on the stock.

esure is up 3.7% at 277.3p after it announced that it will sell the company to Bain Capital.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail's share price is up nearly 1% at 466.6p after Ofcom levied a £50m against the postal group.

The FTSE 250 is up 0.34% at 20,645.43.

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The FTSE 100 has reversed earlier falls to trade 0.20% higher at 7,734.14.

Software developer Micro Focus is lead the risers, up 1.8% at £12.18.

Bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair is the morning's biggest faller, down 1.7% at £79.70 after it lowered its outlook on full-year operating profit.

Hill & Smith, the FTSE 250-listed construction products specialist, saw its share price plunge ny nearly 20% to £11.89 after project delays hit interim profits.

The FTSE 250 is ahead 0.18% at 20,712.59.

BRET FITZGERALD

After investors gave Micro Focus's interim results the cold shoulder earlier this week, the UK's largest software company has seen its stock bounce back and this morning it is leading the FTSE 100.

Its share price is up 4.3% £12.74.

There are only three blue chip fallers on Friday and they are led by mining group Randgold Resources, down 0.32% at £55.56.

Overall, the FTSE 100 is ahead 59.35 points, or 0.78%, at 7,710.68.

The FTSE 250 is up 152.62 points or 0.73% at 20,932.39.

BBC

A quick mid-morning check on the markets and London's FTSE is still off a few points.

The index is 1.39% lower - that's a loss of 106 points - at 7,585.47.

Barratt Developments is currently topping the riser board, with its shares up 2% after it said it expects to beat its profit target.

Micro Focus International - the UK's largest software group - is top of the losers' leaderboard with shares down 8.7% after it reported a loss for the first half.

BBC

The stock market has welcomed that sale by Micro Focus. Its shares climbed around 5% in early trading, to lead the way among FTSE 100 companies.

The software giant has agreed to sell its SUSE unit to a private equity firm for $2.5bn (£1.9bn).

The SUSE business develops, markets and supports its own "enterprise grade" Linux operating system.

However, as the chart above shows, it's been a hair-raising few months for Micro Focus investors. Shares plunged 40% in one session in March after the company warned of disappointing sales.

Bret Fitzgerald

British software and IT services company Micro Focus is flogging its Linux operating system SUSE business to a private equity fund for $2.535bn.

Micro Focus said it would use the cash raised to reduce its debt, but could return some of the rest to shareholders.

BBC

The FTSE 100 has been on a steadily downward dive since opening this morning. It's now down 93 points, or 1.22% at 7,588.

The biggest loser in the blue-chip index is Micro Focus, which has slumped almost 5%, or 67p, to 1,297.

The miners are also struggling with Anglo American down 3%, Glencore 2.,65%, and Antofagasta losing 2.53%.