Market overview: 1 May

• Underlying replacement cost profit at integrated oil major BP was down in the first quarter, with the downstream business primarily responsible for the fall-off.

• Switzerland-headquartered mining giant Xstrata gave a mixed first-quarter production report on Tuesday morning but assured that all of its major projects continue to make good progress and remain on schedule.

• Profits at Lloyds Banking Group were back in the black in the first quarter but the bank has had to set aside more money to cover the mis-selling of payment protection insurance.

• Wireless technology and computer chip company CSR said first quarter pre-tax losses widened to $16.5m from $2.9m previously.

• Man Group , the hedge fund manager which has seen its share price plummet over the last two months, has reported a slight increase in funds under management in the first quarter.

• Cigarette producer Imperial Tobacco has beaten market expectations both in terms of operating profits and earnings per share in its first half as the its biggest brand, Gauloises Blondes, produced significant growth (IC COMMENT).

• Engine developer Rolls-Royce has bagged a contract from fellow aeronautical engine developer Pratt and Whitney to supply the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem for 17 F-35B Lightning II aircraft.

• Sirius Minerals , the firm looking to develop a potash mine near York, has described new assay (test) results at the site as 'strong' (IC COMMENT).

• Internet and catalogue home shopping specialist N Brown posted higher than expected full year results despite ongoing pressures on disposable incomes (IC COMMENT).

• British Land said that department store chain Debenhams is to take additional office space at the property group's Regent's Place development in north-west London.

• Engineering and project management company AMEC has been awarded a topsides design contract by BP for the Mad Dog Phase Two deepwater project in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Oil and gas engineering firm Lamprell said it had secured a $227m contract from an unnamed drilling contractor to build one of its popular jackup rigs.

• Transport group National Express enjoyed good overall revenue growth in the first quarter, despite a slightly mixed bag of results.

• African Barrick Gold has got final approval from the Tanzanian Vice President's Office Responsible for Environment for the waste rock permit at its North Mara mine.

• Energy and mineral extraction industries services provider Cape left full-year guidance unchanged after announcing underlying revenues increased by one-tenth in the first quarter.

• Digital sports media company, Perform Group , said it was on track to deliver forecast revenues this year after it saw growth in all business areas in the first quarter.

• Exploration and production firm Heritage Oil said it had taken on the former head of US Special Forces, hoping to take advantage of his extensive network of contacts.

• Advanced Computer Software , a provider of healthcare and business management software, has bought the managed services provider Fabric Technologies.

• Oil and gas explorer Serica Energy has reported the arrival of the Polarcus Nadia, a 10-streamer seismic vessel, in Serica's Luderitz Basin Blocks 2512A, 2513A, 2513B and 2612A, which are located offshore Namibia.

• Origo Partners , a Beijing-based private equity investment firm, has estimated its unaudited net asset value (NAV) to be 238.6m dollars, or 0.67 cents per share, at March 31st, down slightly from the 240.6m dollars at the end of 2011.

• Christie Group , a business services firm, has acquired specialist pharmacy business agents Orridge Business Sales for an undisclosed sum, creating the UK's largest specialist pharmacy agency and advisory practice.

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