Morning Markets: Positive Q1 results send FTSE up 0.2%

The FTSE 100 was at 5599.81, a rise of 0.24% or 13.20 points in early morning trading following strong first quarter results from some groups.

BSkyB was one of the morning's biggest movers after posting a strong rise in first quarter profits. Its shares rose 2.6% to 611.5p. Positive Q1 results also boosted Unilever, which advanced 3.13% to £19.76, and Standard Life which increased 1.81% to 197p. Meanwhile, Whitbread fell 3.03% to £15.35 after just missing profit expectations. Other fallers include Home Retail Group, down 2.02% to 271.5p and BP which fell 1.82% to 613.6p. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones closed up 0.48% or 53.28 points to 11,045.27 after a Federal Reserve interest rate statement pointed to signs of strength ...