Mixed earning results for UK firms

Some of the UK's biggest firms announced half and full year profits on Thursday.

British Gas owned by Centrica has reported a 23% rise in profits in its residential business.

However, there is bad news for the part state owned bank Lloyds - it has made a pre-tax loss of £439m in the first six months of the year.

There is also bad news for National Express which has seen group profits fall 17%.

Alastair Hodgson of Pillings Stockbrokers discussed the results with the BBC's Stephanie McGovern.