FTSE 100 Falls After Wall Street Retreat, Weak UK Retail Sales
Data
0901 GMT - The FTSE 100 falls 1.0% to 7506 points after Wall
Street's late Thursday retreat that erased its early gains and
following weak U.K. retail data. Mining shares are among the worst
performers as commodity prices slip. "Risk-off sentiment and a
sell-off on Wall Street are sending shockwaves across global
markets with main European bourses shedding more than 1% each on
the final trading session of the week," Interactive Investor
analyst Victoria Scholar says. Data on Friday showed U.K. retail
sales dropped 0.9% year-on-year in December, compared to the 3.4%
increase expected by economists in a WSJ survey, as many consumers
stayed at home due to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus
variant. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Companies News:
Ninety One's Assets Under Management Rose in 3Q
Ninety One PLC said Friday that its assets under management for
the third quarter of fiscal 2022 increased when compared with the
previous quarter.
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Restaurant Group Sees 2021 Ebitda at Top End of Guidance
Restaurant Group PLC said Friday that it expects 2021 earnings
to be at the top end of its guidance range.
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Everyman Media Sees Doubled 2021 Revenue, Ebitda Ahead of Market
Forecasts
Everyman Media Group PLC said Friday that revenue doubled on
year in 2021, driven by strong admissions since re-opening post
Covid-19 restrictions, and that Ebitda is expected ahead of current
market forecasts.
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OnTheMarket Sees 2H Earnings Ahead of Expectations
OnTheMarket PLC said Friday that its adjusted operating profit
for the second half of fiscal 2022 is expected to be ahead of
expectations.
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ADM Energy Raises GBP561,000 Via Share Issue
ADM Energy PLC said Friday it has raised 561,000 pounds
($762,960) through a share issue to United Arab Emirates-based
investment firm Optima Resources Holding Ltd.
---
Character Group Sees FY 2022 Underlying Pretax Profit in Line
With Views
Character Group PLC said on Friday that it expects fiscal 2022
underlying pretax profit to be in line with market expectations,
and that it maintained a steady performance in the lead up to and
through the Christmas period.
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Funds Advised by Apax Partners Sell 7% Stake in Baltic
Classifieds for GBP78 Mln
Funds advised by Apax Partners LLP have sold a 7% stake in
Baltic Classifieds Group PLC for around 78 million pounds ($106.1
million).
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M&C Saatchi Says UK Regulator Ends Probe; Sees 2021 Headline
Pretax Profit Ahead of Views
M&C Saatchi PLC said Friday that the U.K. finance regulator
is closing an investigation of the company without taking
enforcement action, and that its 2021 headline pretax profit is now
expected to be materially ahead of previous expectations.
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Eurocell Sees 2021 Profit Slightly Ahead of Market Views
Eurocell PLC said Friday that it expects to report 2021 pretax
profit slightly ahead of market expectations.
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Photo-Me International CEO Launches GBP283.5 Mln Mandatory Offer
After Share Purchase
Photo-Me International PLC's Chief Executive Serge Crasnianski
is launching a mandatory 283.5 million pound ($385.6 million)
takeover for the London-listed photobooth, printing and
laundry-equipment company after buying shares that boost his
shareholding to 36.5% of the company's issued share capital.
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Close Brothers Loan Book Rose, Boosted by New-Business
Levels
Close Brothers Group PLC said Friday that it has delivered a
positive performance in its current fiscal year, benefiting from
momentum in its businesses and a increased demand.
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Metals Exploration Expects Production to Slide in 2022
Metals Exploration PLC on Friday reported record gold sales and
revenue for 2021, but forecast lower production in 2022.
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4imprint Group Sees 2021 Revenue Rise, Pretax Profit at Upper
End of Analyst Forecasts
4imprint Group PLC said Friday that it expects to report that
revenue for 2021 was 41% higher on year and pretax profit was
toward the upper end of analysts' forecasts.
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Record PLC Assets Under Management Grew $1.2 Bln in 3Q
Record PLC said Friday that its assets under management
increased in the third quarter despite recording net outflows for
the period.
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TheWorks.co.uk Expects FY2022 to Be Above Views; Pretax Loss
Narrowed
TheWorks.co.uk PLC said Friday that it expects an improved
performance for fiscal 2022, and that its half-year pretax loss
narrowed.
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PHSC PLC Shares Jump on New GBP300,000 Share Buyback
Shares in PHSC PLC jumped Friday in early trading after it
announced a fresh share buyback program for up to 300,000 pounds
($408,000).
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Totally Secures New Contracts, Extensions Valued at GBP54
Mln
Totally PLC said Friday it has secured new contracts and a
number of extensions valued at around 54 million pounds ($73.4
million) for the provision of urgent-care services across North
East England, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and South East
London.
---
Rockpool Acquisitions Terminates Proposed Acquisition of
Greenview Gas
Rockpool Acquisitions PLC said Friday that it has terminated the
proposed acquisition of Greenview Gas Ltd., and that the board is
considering potential alternative acquisition targets.
Market Talk:
4imprint Should Return to Fundamental Growth in 2022 Despite
Lingering Challenges
1023 GMT - 4imprint Group should see a return to fundamental
growth--as opposed to recovery--in 2022, with the $1 billion
revenue target possible in 2023, Peel Hunt says. The U.K. marketer
of promotional products' cost inflation and supply chain challenges
remain, but the issues surrounding the latter should ease this
year, the U.K. brokerage says. "One impact of Covid may be to have
materially changed the marketing mix and the point of marginal
returns. If this is the case, margin recovery could be faster than
we forecast currently," it adds. Peel Hunt has a buy rating on the
stock with a target price of 3,100 pence. Shares trade up 1.1% at
2,660 pence. (kyle.morris@dowjones.com)
TheWorks.co.uk's New Strategy Seems to Be Working
0955 GMT - TheWorks.co.uk's 1H revenue increased 31% and LFL
sales grew 15%, showing that the refit strategy of stocking more
front-list products, like Christmas best sellers or branded games,
is working well, Peel Hunt says. The London-listed value retailer
historically has avoided this type of strategy, thinking that gross
margins were low, Peel Hunt says. Despite the unchanged store
numbers, the new format should accelerate its expansion, the U.K.
brokerage adds. Peel Hunt has a buy rating on the stock with a
target price of 100 pence. Shares are up 12% at 63.0 pence.
(michael.susin@wsj.com)
Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones
Newswires; paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 21, 2022 05:41 ET (10:41 GMT)
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