FTSE 100 movers: Retailers shine on lower prices; Smith slips after cyber attack

(Sharecast News) - FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,561.10 0.67% Retailers gained as prices at UK tills decreased in January as retailers offered "deep discounts" on things like furniture and fashion, according to the British Retail Consortium, though upcoming increases to labour-market bills could reignite inflationary pressures in the spring.

According to the BRC-NeilsenIQ shop price index for January, shop prices fell 0.4% month-on-month following a flat reading in December.

While food prices rose 0.5%, up from 0.1% the month before, non-food prices reduced by 0.9% after a 0.1% decline previously.

This meant that shop prices were 0.7% lower than they were in January 2024, following a 1.0% year-on-year fall in December.

Primark owner Associated British Foods, JD Sports, B&Q parent Kingfisher and Marks & Spencer all made gains.

Engineering firm Smiths Group fell after saying it had been hit by a cyber security incident. The incident involved unauthorised access to the company's systems.

"As soon as Smiths became aware of the unauthorised activity, the company rapidly isolated affected systems and activated business continuity plans," it said.

Smiths said it was working with cyber security experts to recover affected systems and determine any wider impact on the business.

"The company is taking steps to comply with all relevant regulatory requirements," it said, adding that an update will be provided as and when appropriate.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 - Risers

Spirax Group (SPX) 7,980.00p 3.97% Centrica (CNA) 136.95p 3.59% Barratt Redrow (BTRW) 452.10p 3.50% Kingfisher (KGF) 246.50p 3.40% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 329.60p 3.23% Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,925.50p 3.00% Whitbread (WTB) 2,891.00p 2.88% JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 83.58p 2.70% Persimmon (PSN) 1,275.00p 2.66% Halma (HLMA) 2,911.00p 2.54%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 4,326.00p -2.41% Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,849.00p -1.81% Beazley (BEZ) 818.00p -1.74% Mondi (MNDI) 1,214.00p -0.78% Glencore (GLEN) 359.10p -0.66% Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,077.00p -0.65% Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,059.50p -0.61% Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,872.00p -0.56% The Sage Group (SGE) 1,319.00p -0.49% Weir Group (WEIR) 2,370.00p -0.42%