"Burberry has again pleased, making earlier challenges look temporary in nature, " Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Keith Bowman said.

BBC: From the section Business

Hiving off Virgin Radio as a separate business made sense, said Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers analyst Keith Bowman.

BBC: SMG had already warned profits would be lower

"The group's reputation for delivering consistent growth has today received a further boost, " said Keith Bowman, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

BBC: Unilever reaches 50bn-euro turnover in 2012

"The group's move into growing emerging markets is alleviating much of the pain being experienced throughout developed markets, " said Keith Bowman, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Rain dampens brewer's beer sales

However, Keith Bowman, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, remained cautious.

BBC: BP's profits edge lower but beat forecasts

Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that while Barclays faced "a series of legacy issues" such as Libor, and increased regulatory and capital requirements, things were looking up for the bank.

BBC: Barclays announces 3,700 job cuts

Analyst Keith Bowman of Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers said that Shell's management creditability - which was damaged in 2004 after it had to cut estimates of its proven oil reserves by 20% - was continuing to recover.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Shell gains on refining margins