The UK’s biggest construction firm, Balfour Beatty, was today looking forward to forecast-beating profits after strong trading across the group.

UK construction giant Balfour Beatty said today it was on track to make “further good progress” after strong performances in civil engineering, building and rail helped the firm beat profit expectations.

The London market enjoyed a bullish session today as record results from Royal Dutch Shell and bumper earnings figures from AstraZeneca and Rio Tinto pushed blue-chip stocks ahead.