Business Objects deal drives Autonomy higher

Under the deal, Autonomy's software will be integrated into future releases of Business Objects' e-Business Intelligence application. The Autonomy software helps the programme to select relevant information from company databases to display on corporate intranet portals.

Shares in Cambridge-based Autonomy opened sharply up and were trading as high as 2450p this morning, from yesterday's close of 2185p. Autonomy is moving away from its trough of 1310p earlier this month, but the share price has a long way to go before it recovers its peak valuation of 4100p.

Investors had been worried that the company had failed to secure enough heavy weight OEM partners. However, the past ten days have seen announcements of big deals with Sonera and Ericsson, as well as Business Objects.