FTSE 100 index up 0.1%; Bunzl shares up after posting profit increase By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Gains for commodity firms and banks helped support the top British share index on Monday, the sixth day in a row of gains for the index. The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX 5,367, +9.17, +0.17%) traded up 0.1% to 5,362.20. Other European shares were pressured, while U.S. stock futures were mildly higher. See Europe Markets. Although most metal futures were lower, gold futures managed to trade in positive territory, with the contract up 10 cents at $1.112.20 an ounce in electronic trading. Miners advanced, with Rio Tinto (UK:RIO 3,479, +66.00, +1.93%) (RTP 213.30, -2.49, -1.15%) shares up 1.6%. Banks were also trading in positive territory, with Royal Bank of Scotland (UK:RBS 35.38, +0.85, +2.45%) shares up 1.9% after the firm's Chief Executive, Stephen Hester, will refuse a 1.6 million pound bonus for 2009, according to press reports late Sunday. Hester joined RBS after the bank was bailed out by the government, replacing Fred Goodwin as CEO. Hester, who has a salary of 1.2 million pounds a year, reportedly believes that turning down his bonus will help defuse public anger over the bank's pay and bonuses. Other banks on the move included Barclays (UK:BARC 318.20, +6.50, +2.08%) (BCS 19.33, -0.03, -0.15%) , up 1.8% and Lloyds Banking Group (UK:LLOY 51.14, +0.68, +1.35%) (LYG 3.16, -0.04, -1.25%) , up 1.1%. Turning to earnings and shares of outsourcing firm Bunzl (UK:BNZL 685.00, +32.50, +4.98%) jumped 4.4%. It 2009 net profit rose 5% to 148.9 million pounds ($230.7 million) as revenue grew 11% to 4.65 billion pounds. Cost cutting helped drive a significant improvement in operating margin during the second half of the year, the firm said, as it also raised its dividend by 5% to 21.55 pence a share. "Looking ahead, while the economic conditions are expected to remain challenging, we believe that Bunzl should continue to show resilience and to develop well, helped by our leading market positions, an improving environment for acquisitions and our strong cash flow and balance sheet," said CEO Michael Roney. Elsewhere, shares of property developer Hammerson (UK:HMSO 390.40, +0.30, +0.08%) advanced 0.1% after its 2009 net loss narrowed to 344.5 million pounds ($533.7 million) from 1.57 billion pounds. Net rental income fell 2.1% to 293.6 million pounds. The company said its portfolio fell in value by 9% over the year, but had recovered from a low during the second half of the year. Rental income was down mainly due to disposals, while comparable rental income grew 1.1%, it said. The group said the total dividend for 2009 will be 15.45 pence, compared to a pro forma dividend of 15 pence a share for 2008.

Source