BUZZ-AB Foods: top FTSE gainer as sugar, Primark drive H1 profit beat

** AB Foods +3.2%, top FTSE 100 gainer & hits its highest since Sept 2016 as co reports better-than-expected profit, lifts FY guidance

** Due to recovery in sugar business, resilient performance at discount fashion retailer Primark, H1 adj oper profit +36% to 652 mln stg vs analysts' est 623 mln stg

** Liberum attributes strong sugar business performance to cost savings, lower beet costs, improved pricing & strong production in Africa

** Co sees "good growth" in FY adj oper profit, adj EPS vs previous forecast of "progress"

** Investec (LSE: INVP.L - news) places its forecast under review, saying statement implies low-mid single-digit upgrade to consensus of +c.16% PBT growth for FY17 (FY17 PBT est was 1.25 bln stg pre-statement)

** Nearly 1/5th 30-day daily avg vol through in c.30 mins of trade

** Co -c.19% y/y vs FTSE 100 +12.5%