FTSE 100 Rises After Positive Covid-19 Vaccine Update
0858 GMT - The FTSE 100 climbs 0.2% to 7350 points as investors
cheer news that a third jab of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus
vaccine offers an effective defence against the new Omicron
variant. DS Smith tops the London index, rising 2.4%, after the
packaging business reported a jump in first-half profit and raised
its interim dividend. Rolls-Royce leads the fallers with shares
down 3.3% after the aerospace and defense company said its large
energy flying hours were currently 50% below 2019 levels while
installed engine sales and aftermarket shop visit activity fell in
the third quarter.(renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Companies News:
Rolls-Royce Returned to Positive Free Cash Flow in 3Q
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC said Thursday that it restored positive
free cash flow in the third quarter.
---
Farfetch Snaps Up Resale Platform as Secondhand Luxury Keeps On
Growing
Farfetch Ltd. has acquired luxury resale platform Luxclusif as
the sector's interest in the second-hand market grows apace,
marking the latest expansion at the British-Portuguese e-commerce
firm.
---
Frasers 1H Pretax Profit Rose Significantly; Sees FY Growth
Frasers Group PLC on Thursday reported a significant rise in
pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2022 and said that it
expects to post a materially stronger adjusted pretax profit for
the full year if there are no additional Covid-19 lockdowns in the
U.K., particularly during Christmas.
---
DS Smith 1H Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose; Increases Dividend
DS Smith PLC said Thursday that pretax profit and revenue rose
for the first half of fiscal 2022 and that it has increased the
interim dividend.
---
ITV Studios Revenue Seen Recovering to 2019 Levels in 2022
ITV PLC said Thursday that total revenue for its ITV Studios
unit should recover to 2019 levels in 2022.
---
Harbour Energy Introduces $200 Mln Annual Dividend
Harbour Energy PLC said Thursday that it will introduce a $200
million annual dividend, as it expects to remain free cash flow
positive every year in the medium term at current forward commodity
prices.
---
Hikma Signs Deal to Commercialize Gedeon Richter's Osteoporosis
Treatment
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC said Thursday that it has signed a
deal to commercialize Gedeon Richter PLC's denosumab in the
U.S.
---
Stanley Gibbons 1H Pretax Loss Widened; Aims to Become Cash
Sustainable in 2H
Stanley Gibbons Group PLC said Thursday that its pretax loss
widened in the first half of fiscal 2022 and that it aims to become
a sustainably cash positive business within the next six
months.
---
Galileo Resources Shares Rise as Investee Glenover Agrees to $16
Mln Disposal
Shares in Galileo Resources PLC rose Thursday after it said its
investee Glenover Phosphate Proprietary Ltd. agreed to sell certain
phosphate rock deposits and mining rights for 250 million rand
($15.9 million) to Afrimat Ltd.
---
S&U Growth Accelerates on Strong Performance
S&U PLC said Thursday that it is performing strongly, with
growth accelerating in both its Advantage Finance and Aspen
Bridging Finance businesses.
---
Clipper Logistics 1H Pretax Profit Rose
Clipper Logistics PLC on Thursday reported a higher pretax
profit for the first half of fiscal 2022, and said it is on track
to meet full-year expectations.
---
Real Good Food Shares Rise as 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed
Significantly
Shares in Real Good Food PLC rose Thursday after the company
reported a significantly narrowed pretax loss for the first half of
fiscal 2022 and said the board is confident it will restore greater
profitability over the coming trading periods.
---
Made.com 2H Was Strong But Supply-Chain Issues Cause Revenue
Delays
Made.com Group PLC said Thursday that it enjoyed a strong second
half in 2021, but that a greater proportion of revenue and adjusted
Ebitda will be delayed to early 2022 due to supply-chain
disruptions.
---
Go-Ahead Shares to Be Suspended After FY 2021 Results Delayed
Further; Shares Fall
Go-Ahead Group PLC shares fell Thursday after it said it expects
trading in its shares to be temporarily suspended from Jan. 4 after
the publication of its fiscal 2021 results was further delayed.
---
Robinson Shares Fall as 2021 Earnings Are Expected to Halve
Shares in Robinson PLC fell Thursday after the company forecast
lower earnings for 2021 reflecting lower demand in the second half
and high costs.
---
Vertu Motors Upgrades FY 2022 Pretax Profit Guidance
Vertu Motors PLC said Thursday that it has raised its pretax
profit guidance for 2022 as demand remains positive with higher
margins on both new and used vehicles.
---
Driver Group Shares Fall After Delay to FY 2021 Accounts
Shares in Driver Group PLC plummeted Thursday after the claims
and dispute-management company said it is delaying the release of
its fiscal 2021 results due to issues related to its principal
customer in Oman.
Market Talk:
Pound to Fall Vs Dollar if BOE Delays Rate Rise, Fed Accelerates
Tapering
0916 GMT - Sterling is likely to weaken versus the dollar if the
Bank of England delays raising interest rates and the Federal
Reserve accelerates the tapering of asset purchases, MUFG Bank
says. The BOE will likely keep rates unchanged until at least
February after the U.K. government tightened coronavirus
restrictions and following recently cautious comments from BOE
officials, MUFG's Lee Hardman says. Meanwhile, the Fed should speed
up tapering at its December 14-15 meeting, he says. "The time gap
between the first BOE and Fed rate hikes is likely to be much
shorter now than initially expected which should keep downward
pressure on cable heading into year end and moving it closer to the
1.3000-level." GBP/USD trades flat at 1.3206.
(renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones
Newswires; paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 09, 2021 04:42 ET (09:42 GMT)
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