Shares in Halma Group PLC were up 3.3% in late morning trading after a leading investment bank upgraded its stock recommendation on the safety equipment group.
In a short note, UBS said it had moved to 'buy' from 'neutral' and set a price target of 2,700p, up 500p from its previous valuation.
Halma's shares were changing hands for 2,280, up 72p.
It was one of a series of calls on mid-tier engineers. Pump maker Weir Group PLC (LSE:WEIR) was downgraded to 'neutral' as was Spirax-Sarco PLC.
Assessing the prospects for the UK's 'metal bashers' (a term largely out of date given the wholesale diversification across the sector) UBS said Melrose Industries PLC (LSE:MRO, OTC:MLSPF) came out as the pick of the litter.
"Shares have regained composure and we see reasons to expect momentum to continue; with recent headlines suggesting higher aftermarket utilisation in the near-term, possible market share shift in narrowbody further out, and the much-anticipated widebody replacement cycle," it said in a note to clients.
It rates Melrose a ' buy' up to 770p, a 39% premium to the current price of 631.8p, up 1.8%.