Mothercare has fuelled nerves surrounding the retail sector after warning its annual profits will be short of market expectations.
The stock slumped 5% – down 30.5p to 567.5p – as it joined Next, HMV and Clinton Cards in highlighting the impact of December’s snow.
The FTSE 100 Index, which staged a late session fightback on Wednesday to set a new two-and-a-half year high, climbed another 13.3 points to 6057.1.
The risers board was topped by Cambridge-based technology firm ARM Holdings following news that Microsoft’s new Windows operating system will be able to run using ARM’s chips. The stock jumped 10%, or 46.1p to 517.5p.
Rolls-Royce was another strong riser, up 15p to 669p after it completed contracts for Trent 900 and Trent 1000 engines to power up to 61 new wide-body aircraft with British Airways.
Outside the top flight, Clinton Cards slumped 3.75p to 24.25p after its latest profits warning, while Halfords dropped 13.3p to 426.7p as investors speculated that its portfolio of out-of-town stores may have struggled in the snow.
Household products maker McBride topped the FTSE 250 Index fallers board after it said its results will be towards the lower end of expectations. Shares were 13.4p lower at 170.4p.
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