Updates from easyJet, Interserve and Spire Healthcare

Monday saw some fall-back for the FTSE 100, down almost 17 points to 7,029.8 with CRH the biggest loser, down 2.8% to 1837p. However RoyalMail shares climbed 3.9%, almost touching 500p while TaylorWimpey saw a 2.7% climb to 180.40p. 3i Group shares climbed 2.6% to 515p. Meanwhile over in Greece finance minister Yanis Varoufakis described his country's situation as "terribly urgent".

Stateside, there was an 86-point drop for the Dow Jones, down 86 points to 18,105.1 with Exxon falling almost 2.5% as oil prices slid again. Anxiety on slowing Chinese growth also heightened.

The main news this morning is £7m profits from easyJet for the last six months - easyJet makes the bulk of its profits in the second half of the year - thanks to cheaper oil prices; this compares to a £53m loss last year. Revenues per seat were up more than 2.5% says easyJet.

Cost per seat excluding fuel grew 2.9% on a constant currency basis and decreased 1.4% on a reported basis to £38.66. The increase in cost per seat was driven by anticipated increases in charges at regulated airports says easyJet.

"As we enter the important summer season forward bookings are in line with last year," says boss Carolyn McCall, "and as we predicted passengers are benefitting as fares fall to reflect a more competitive operating environment and lower fuel costs."

Next, a trading update from Interserve. It claims a solid year to date with further visibility for 2015 and beyond. The mobilisation of Ministry of Justice's Transforming Rehabilitation is on schedule it claims.

However UK construction margins remains tight. "We have had a good start to the year," claims boss Adrian Ringrose, "securing a number of significant new contracts which further strengthen our future workload."

Interserve, along with China State Construction Engineering Corp, was recently named as a major contractor for the One Nine Elms project in London.

Finally, Spire Healthcareclaims trading for the last quarter has been positive with revenues improving. Group revenues have grown around 10%, with revenue growth in all three payor groups - PMI, Self-Pay and NHS - it claims.

Construction of Spire's major new cancer radiotherapy centre, next to the Baddow Hospital at the Essex Healthcare Park in Chelmsford, is well underway with completion expected before the end of 2015.

"While the growth in the NHS business in the period has been strong," says boss Rob Roger, "it is also gratifying that there has been continued strong growth in the Self-Pay business."

Read more:

The Economist - Claim your free issue

How to trade like a Pro

The Legacy maker - how to pass wealth on