FTSE heading for second winning month in a row

Optimistically, the FTSE 100 could be heading for its second winning month in a row, adding 13.2, or 0.3%, to 4198.6 this morning.

The index has advanced 3.9% this month after climbing 8.5% in October. The FTSE All-Share Index gained 5.81, or 0.3%, to 2016.08.

Reuters and Prudential have led the gains. The financial news wire rose 6.5 pence, or 2.8%, to 239p, while Prudential, the second-largest British insurer, added 20p, or 3.8%, to 545.

Other companies experience rises are Eurocopy, the photocopier service provider. Its shares rose 2.5p, or 6.1%, to 43.5. The company said fiscal-year profit rose 6% because of increased sales and a full-year's contribution from businesses acquired last year.

Hanson, the producer of crushed rock, also gained. Shares rose by 6.5p, or 2.1%, to 313. The advancement follows the reports that Fresenius Medical Care, the largest dialysis provider, that it agreed in principle to settle asbestos claims in the U.S. for $15 million. Hanson said earlier this month 3,400 new asbestos claims have been filed this year.

Interserve gained 7.5p, or 4%, to 197.5. The construction-services company won several maintenance contracts for companies including BP and British Nuclear Fuels, totalling £85 million.

Pub chain J.D. Wetherspoon got off to a bad start, where shares slid by almost a quarter: 62p, or 24%, to 191.5. The company said full-year pretax profit may fall by 10% as sales of drinks stagnate.

While LiDCO Group has lost more than half of it value, as shares plunged 8.75p, or 60%, to 5.75. The maker of cardiac monitors said full-year results will be ``significantly'' below analysts' expectations as sales of cardiovascular monitoring devices lagged in the US.

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