Retailers keep FTSE afloat

Next increased first-half earnings per share by 11.3% adding that sales remained volatile but had been lifted recently by the cooler weather, taking it up 4.63% to 1,784.00p. BAE Systems' has also reported underlying interim profits rose by 39% to £788m, helped its US operations while operating profit rose to £653m, slightly above market forecasts taking it up 1.17% to 390.00p. Ex-dividend stocks account for most of the fallers, though miners are again under pressure on concerns that China is overheating. Water utility giant Severn Trent has announced it is to demerge its waste unit,...