Sterling Faces Hit From Rising UK-EU Tensions
0742 GMT - Sterling could weaken as U.K.-EU tensions over the
Northern Ireland protocol that forms part of the Brexit deal look
set to escalate, MUFG Bank says. Noting that Northern Ireland
Secretary Brandon Lewis has signalled that the U.K. plans to
introduce legislation to override parts of the Brexit deal in the
next three weeks, MUFG analyst Derek Halpenny says such action
could create elevated uncertainty that will weigh on sterling. The
EU could threaten scrapping the entire Brexit trade agreement or
suspend parts of the deal, he says in a note. "The pound will get
hit if these options are even mentioned as considerations by the
EU." GBP/USD rises 0.1% to 1.2595, but EUR/GBP rises to a one-week
high of 0.8522.(renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Companies News:
Hikma Pharmaceuticals CEO Siggi Olafsson to Step Down
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC said Tuesday that Siggi Olafsson has
resigned as Chief Executive Officer and will be temporally replaced
by the executive chairman and former CEO Said Darwazah.
---
RS Group FY 2022 Revenue, Pretax Profit Rose on Improved
Performance Across Regions
RS Group PLC said Tuesday that fiscal 2022 pretax profit and
revenue rose after experiencing improved performance in all three
of the regions in which it operates.
---
Shaftesbury Swings to 1H Profit, Doubles Dividend
Shaftesbury PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a profit in the
first half of the fiscal year, mainly due to revaluation surpluses,
and doubled its dividend.
---
Cranswick FY 2022 Pretax Profit Rose; Current FY Performance in
Line With Mgmt Views
Cranswick PLC on Tuesday reported a rise in pretax profit for
fiscal 2022, and said performance for the current financial year
has so far been in line with management expectations.
---
Topps Tiles 1H Pretax Profit Rose; Says Sales Continue to Grow
in 2H
Topps Tiles PLC on Tuesday reported a rise in pretax profit for
the first half of fiscal 2022 and said that its performance remains
strong, with like-for-like sales growing 5.7% in the first seven
weeks of the second half.
---
U.K. Regulator Clears National Express, Stagecoach Merger, But
Deal Will Not Proceed
The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday that the
merger between National Express Group PLC and Stagecoach Group PLC
didn't qualify for investigation under the merger provisions of the
Enterprise Act 2002.
---
Hilton Food Says 2022 YTD Performance in Line With Internal
Views
Hilton Food Group PLC said Tuesday that its performance in 2022
has been in line with internal expectations, with sales rising in
the year to date.
---
Homeserve FY 2022 Pretax Profit Rose on Strong Performance
Homeserve PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit for fiscal 2022
rose, driven by robust growth across all three divisions.
---
Greencoat Renewables to Buy Axpo's Wind Farms in France
Greencoat Renewables PLC said Tuesday that it has signed a deal
to buy a 65-megawatt portfolio of operating wind farms located in
France from Axpo Holding AG, its second portfolio acquisition in
the country.
---
On the Beach 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed; Sees Profitability for
2H
On the Beach Group PLC on Tuesday reported a narrowed pretax
loss for the first half of fiscal 2022, and said that it is
confident about achieving profitability in the second half.
---
Kier Performing in Line with Board's Views; Order Book Rose
6%
Kier Group PLC said on Tuesday that it has continued to perform
in line with the board's expectations over the four months to the
end of April, despite continued inflation pressures.
---
Hyve Group Swung to 1H Pretax Loss After Russia Exit, Insurance
Proceeds Decline
Hyve Group PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a pretax loss for
the first half of fiscal 2022 after it exited Russia and its
insurance proceeds relating to canceled events declined.
---
Boohoo Group Reaches Final Settlement for California Claim
Boohoo Group PLC said Tuesday that it has reached a final
settlement without admission of liability in relation to the
Californian class action claim.
---
Actual Experience 1H Loss Widened as Costs Rose, Sales Fell
Actual Experience PLC on Tuesday reported a widened loss for the
first half of the fiscal year, as it raised investment in sales and
marketing.
---
SSP 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed as Pandemic Restrictions Eased
SSP Group PLC said Tuesday that its pretax loss narrowed for the
first half of fiscal 2022 as revenue recovered due to the easing of
pandemic restrictions, and that it is well-positioned for a strong
summer in its key markets, notwithstanding supply-chain issues in
the travel industry.
---
Trinity Exploration Profits Rose in 2021, to Restart Drilling in
2H -- Energy Comment
Trinity Exploration & Production PLC on Tuesday reported
improved profits for 2021, reflecting higher oil prices, and
confirmed that it will resume drilling exploration in the second
half of this year. Here's what the Trinidad & Tobago-focused
oil company had to say:
---
BrandShield Systems Raises GBP1 Mln to Fund Growth
BrandShield Systems PLC said Tuesday that it has raised 1
million pounds ($1.3 million) via a share subscription and will use
the money toward key growth initiatives.
---
Lords Group 2021 Pretax Profit Doubled, Is Confident on
Medium-Term Targets
Lords Group Trading PLC reported on Tuesday a more-than-doubled
pretax profit for 2021 and said that it is confident about meeting
its medium-term targets.
---
Avon Protection Swung to 1H Pretax Loss; CEO to Step Down
Avon Protection PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a first-half
pretax loss as the extended delay in the sign-off of the U.S.
federal budget affected customers.
---
Restaurant Group Says 2022 Expectations Unchanged Despite
Inflation Hit
Restaurant Group PLC said Tuesday that its expectations for 2022
remain unchanged despite increased food and drink inflation.
---
Helical FY 2022 Pretax Profit Rose, Increases Dividend
Helical PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit for fiscal 2022 rose
and that it increased its dividend payout.
---
Greencore Group Swung to 1H Pretax Profit; Recovery Trends
Continue
Greencore Group PLC reported on Tuesday a swing to a pretax
profit for the first half of fiscal 2022, and said that its current
second half performance is positive.
Market Talk:
RS Group Seen With Potential for Further Gains
0710 GMT - RS Group's FY 2022 results are slightly ahead of
upgraded guidance and it has strong potential for further market
share gains after the Covid-19 pandemic strengthened its
competitive advantage in a fragmented market, RBC Capital Markets
analyst Andrew Brooke says in a research note. "Trading remains
strong, with robust inventory availability and further average
order size increases," he says. The company's momentum continues to
be strong and more share gains should be made despite broader
uncertainty, he says. What's more, the recent sell-off is a good
buying opportunity, Brooke says. RBC has an outperform rating on
the stock with a price target of 1,475 pence.
(kyle.morris@dowjones.com)
Contact: London NewsPlus; paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 24, 2022 04:07 ET (08:07 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
FTSE 100
Index Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
FTSE 100
Index Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024