FTSE 100 post strong start to February The benchmark index added 0.6pc to 6,314.14, regaining almost all of the ground it lost yesterday following disappointing earnings announcements from drugmaker AstraZeneca and oil major Royal Dutch Shell. The positive start to February follows the FTSE 100's best performance over the month of January since 1989. Tate & Lyle led the handful of blue-chip fallers this morning, with traders taking fright at the group's muted outlook statement in its trading update. The group has made a solid start to the final quarter. Despite facing a number of headwinds and before the impact of exchange rate movements, we expect to make modest progress this financial year," the company, which makes the sweetener Splenda, said. Tate & Lyle shares fell 3.2pc. At the other end of the table, shares in telecoms giant BT Group climbed 5.6pc in the wake of the company's third quarter results, which surpassed market expectations. "BT has a stronger balance sheet than the sector average, even taking into account the pension, and also has more stable operating prospects and a significantly better medium term cash flow outlook," said Liberum Capital analyst Lawrence Sugarman. On the mid-cap FTSE 250 - 1.2pc higher in early deals - banknote printer De La Rue was also in demand, despite the company admitting that it faced stiff competition from rivals. "As anticipated the banknote paper market remains challenging, reflecting the introduction of additional capacity by other manufacturers, with continuing evidence of pricing pressure," the group said. Nevertheless, investors were pleased that some contracts, which had been delayed last year, had now come through, and the shares rose 6.1pc in early trade.