BP

BP was one of the biggest losers in early trading as investors sold shares in the oil major following a disappointing update.

Oil major BP saw profits fall in the first quarter of the year, led by its downstream business, but has held its dividend at 8 cents per share.

BP has reached agreements with 100,000 individual plaintiffs to resolve claims from the 2010 oil spill - costing the company $7.8bn.

Reports of a 'light sheen' of oil found near production sites in the Gulf of Mexico sent shares in the UK oil majors lower this morning.

James Henderson has managed Henderson Global Investors' UK Equity Income fund since 2005, taking on the mandate after a long spell at the asset manager.

UK dividend growth will disappoint in 2012, undershooting forecasts, investment trust manager Charles Luke has warned.

COMMODITIES

Ecclesiastical's Robin Hepworth has warned gilts are ‘in a bubble' and should be avoided by investors looking for returns over the medium term.

UK oil leviathan BP today announced its first dividend hike since it resumed payouts a year ago, after revealing profits had soared in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Income investors enjoyed a bumper year in 2011 as dividends from UK-listed companies hit an all-time high, surging 12.8% to £67.8bn.