FTSE 100 Set to Open Lower After Downbeat Asia Trading
0627 GMT - The FTSE 100 is expected to open eight points lower
at 7226, according to CMC Markets, after downbeat trading in Asia.
Markets in mainland China, Hong Kong and Japan are all lower.
"Markets in Asia have got off to a shaky start, with the main
attention on this morning's disappointing China 3Q GDP and retail
sales and industrial production data for September," CMC analyst
Michael Hewson says. (philip.waller@wsj.com)
Companies News:
Playtech Agrees to GBP2.1 Bln Aristocrat Leisure Takeover
Playtech PLC said late Sunday that it has agreed to a 2.1
billion-pound ($2.89 billion) takeover from Australian-listed
gaming content and technology company Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.
through its subsidiary Aristocrat (UK) Holdings Ltd.
---
Schroders 3Q Assets Under Management Rose
Schroders PLC said Monday that its assets under management for
the third quarter of the year rose when compared with the previous
quarter.
---
AstraZeneca Recommends Shareholders Reject TRC Capital
Mini-Tender Bid
AstraZeneca PLC said Monday that it has recommended shareholders
reject a mini-tender offer from TRC Capital Investment Corporation
for up to two million American Depositary Shares, due to its low
bidding price of up to $115.8 million.
---
Global Ports Investments 3Q Container Throughput Grew 8.4%
On-Year
Global Ports Investments PLC said Monday that its container
throughput increased in the third quarter, as growth across the
wider Russian market remained strong.
---
UK Takeover Panel Extends Stagecoach, National Express Bid
Deadline
Stagecoach Group PLC said Monday that the U.K. Takeover Panel
has agreed to extend the deadline for peer National Express Group
PLC to either make an offer for it or walk away until Nov. 16.
---
Supreme PLC 1H Performance Was Strong, Expects to Meet Full-Year
Views
Supreme PLC said Monday that its performance in the first half
of fiscal 2022, which ended Sept. 30, was robust and that it is
confident in achieving full-year expectations.
---
Thungela Cuts Guidance Blaming South Africa Rail
Infrastructure
Thungela Resources Ltd. cut its guidance for 2021 on Monday,
saying that the condition of the rail infrastructure in South
Africa is impairing its ability to export the coal it produces in
the country.
---
Cloudcoco Group Expects to Beat FY 2020 Revenue, Trading
Ebitda
Cloudcoco Group PLC said Monday that it expects fiscal 2021
revenue and trading Ebitda to beat the previous year's figures,
with a further strong progress in fiscal 2022.
---
Ixico Says FY 2021 Revenue, Ebitda Beat Market Views; FY 2022
Profitability to Fall
Ixico PLC said Monday that revenue and earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization for its fiscal 2021 are
expected to be ahead of market expectations, but that it also
expects to have lower profitability in 2022 due to high levels of
investment.
---
Distil Swung to 1H Loss on Lower Revenue, Supply-Chain Issues
Continue
Distil PLC on Monday reported a swing to a pretax loss in the
first half of the year as revenue fell, and said that its
production costs are likely to continue to increase due to global
supply-chain strains.
---
Benchmark Holdings' FY Earnings Seen Significantly Ahead of
Market Views
Benchmark Holdings PLC said Monday that its full-year results
are expected to be significantly ahead of market expectations
thanks to continued growth across its businesses.
---
Gusbourne to Raise up to GBP4.5 Mln in Placing, Subscription and
Open Offer
Gusbourne PLC said Monday it plans to raise up to 4.5 million
pounds ($6.2 million) before expenses through a placing and
subscription, and an open offer.
Market Talk:
Rio Tinto a Cash Flow, Not Growth, Story for 2021
0531 GMT - Rio Tinto should return to growth in 2022, with a 5%
increase in copper-equivalent production forecast by Goldman Sachs
underpinned by a rebound in iron-ore production and higher copper
output. However, "management has lots to do over the next 1-2 years
to turn the operational and execution performance around,
especially lifting system capacity in the Pilbara and ramping up
the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine in Mongolia," says GS. In 2021, Rio
Tinto's output is likely to fall 4%, GS estimates. "Rio is not a
growth story over the next 6 months. It is a FCF [free cash flow]
story," the bank says. The miner is expected to update investors on
its growth projects on Wednesday. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com;
@RhiannonHoyle)
---
Rio Tinto Guidance Downgrades Might Not be Done
0202 GMT - Rio Tinto isn't immune from further guidance
downgrades this year, Morgans says, as shortages of energy, labor
and equipment parts bite. Morgans says delays at the miner's
iron-ore projects in Australia are hardly a surprise. Rio Tinto has
been candid about operational challenges in the Pilbara iron-ore
business this year in part because it can't get enough workers, the
broker says. It is "not cause for long-term concern, but there is
further risk in 4Q21 that in a worst case [Rio Tinto investors]
could see a third 2021 downgrade," Morgans says.
(rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)
---
Rio Tinto Should Be on Prowl for Copper Acquisition
0154 GMT - Rio Tinto should be hunting more aggressively for a
copper acquisition to rebalance its iron-ore focused portfolio,
Morgans reckons. However, the broker acknowledges that may be
unlikely to happen given the miner's current focus on improving its
operational performance and social license. "Rio's dependence on
Escondida for copper exposure is causing it considerable pain as
the giant copper mine continues to suffer sustained Covid impact,"
Morgans says. The rising profitability of Rio Tinto's aluminum
business is a real positive, though, says the broker, which is
looking for any sign the miner might sell higher-cost assets while
they are profitable. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)
Contact: London NewsPlus, paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 18, 2021 03:15 ET (07:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
FTSE 100
Index Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
FTSE 100
Index Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024