UK inflation was a popular theme trending on the net today, with news the rate had dropped to its lowest for 13 months in October.
The ONS said CPI (consumer price inflation) had fallen to 2.2% last month compared to 2.7% in the previous month of September. Ecomomists had predicted a drop to 2.5%.
Also, popular on the web was understandably the latest half year numbers from mobile phone giant Vodafone (LON:VOD).
At the time of writing this, VOD shares were up slightly - 1.01% - after falling in early deals after it revealed that trading conditions in Europe remained "very tough".
Service revenue in southern Europe was down 14.9% on an organic basis, while Northern and Central Europe's service revenue was down 3.9%.
The Footsie constituent said operating profits were down 8.3% to £5.7billion for the six months to Sep 30 but added it was on track to meet its full year profit forecast of £5bn.
Airline Flybe (LON:FLYB) was under the spotlight again today, with shares up nearly 14%. Yesterday, the low cost airline shares took off after its new management posted an improved financial performance in the company's latest half year.
The company made a pre-tax profit of £13.8mln in the six months to end September versus a loss of £1.6mln in the comparable period.
Buildings materials firm CRH (LON: CRH) was the biggest riser on Footsie, gaining over 3%, while in terms of volumes, Armadale Capital (LON:ACP) was the most actively traded stock - with 138.71 mln shares changing hands.
On the bulletin boards, AIM favourite, Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LON:GKP) was, as usual, one of the most actively discussed stocks, along with UK focused potash developer Sirius Minerals (LON:SXX).
Among the most read London statements was one from Oxford Instruments (LON:OXIG).
It revealed it had made an indicative 500p per share offer, which values Andor at 160mln, and is a 25% premium to Monday’s closing price.
Andor said the announcement, which accompanied Oxford Instruments’ half yearly results, was “premature and unhelpful”, but it is still open to the possibility of a deal.
Also in focus today was Kalimantan Gold (LON:KLG, CVE:KLG), which said new possible targets have been identified at its KSK copper project following an airborne survey over the whole area.
Meanwhile, Cluff Natural Resources (LON:CLNR) revealed it has raised £2mln from investors to help it take forward five underground coal gasification projects in the UK.
The group’s projects are found in the Firth of Forth, in Scotland; the Loughor Estuary in Carmarthenshire, South Wales; the Dee Estuary, in North Wales and Merseyside; and at Whitehaven in Cumbria.
Using the cash, Cluff Natural plans to advance work on feasibility studies, as well as assessing geological and seismic data, securing land options for possible test drilling, and work on environmental impact assessments.
Meanwhile, unconventional energy group Wildhorse Energy (LON:WHE ASX:WHE) has agreed terms for a A$3mln (£1.75mln) issue of convertible debt.
Wildhorse, which has underground coal gas and uranium projects in Central and Eastern Europe, said the issue of the loan notes is conditional upon formal documentation and an escrow agreement.