UKX FTSE 100 Index

London Stocks Seen Opening Higher as Markets Recover

The FTSE 100 is expected to open 36.2 points higher, according to IG, having closed Tuesday at 7059.45, as stocks rebound after the previous day's falls and fears about the Omicron variant of coronavirus ebb. U.S. stocks had initially fallen after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said inflation was "not transitory" but then later recovered, Ipek Ozkardeskaya, analyst at Swissquote, says. For now, investors might be relieved that Powell seemed unconcerned by Omicron but their worries haven't gone away, she says. "Jerome Powell may not be concerned with the new Omicron strain, but investors are, and watching the Fed support fade away is certainly not the best news and the news doesn't come at the ideal time."

 
Companies News: 

UK Retail Prices Rose in November, Set to Accelerate Further

U.K. retail prices rose year-on-year in November for the first time in two and a half years, with prices set to continue rising over the Christmas period, according to the latest report by Nielsen and the British Retail Consortium.

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STV Group Sees 2021 Advertising Revenue Rise on Stronger 4Q

STV Group PLC said Wednesday that it expects total advertising revenue for 2021 to be at a record level, with a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter.

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Online Blockchain Swung to FY 2021 Pretax Profit

Online Blockchain PLC on Wednesday reported a profit for the year ended June 30.

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Drax Sees 2021 Adjusted Ebitda at Top End of Expectations

Drax Group PLC on Wednesday forecast that its 2021 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization will be around the top end of current analysts' expectations.

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Brickability 1H Profit, Revenue Rose; Names New COO

Brickability Group PLC said Wednesday that pretax profit more than doubled and revenue nearly tripled for the first half of fiscal 2022, and named Paul Hamilton as its new chief operating officer.

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Blue Prism Agrees to Improved GBP1.23 Bln Offer from SS&C; Withdraws Vista Recommendation

Blue Prism Group PLC said Wednesday that it has agreed a new, higher 1.23 billion-pound ($1.64 billion) takeover by SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. and withdrawn its recommendation for Vista Equity Partners' offer.

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S4 Capital Acquires Maverick Digital

S4 Capital PLC said Wednesday that U.S. Salesforce specialist Maverick Digital is merging with the company's Media.Monks subsidiary.

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Loungers 1H Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose

Loungers PLC said Wednesday that first-half pretax profit rose on higher revenue, and that while it is mindful of the Omicron coronavirus variant it is optimistic about the Christmas period and beyond.

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Springfield Properties Buys Tulloch Homes; Proposes Placing to Help Fund

Springfield Properties PLC said Wednesday it has conditionally acquired private house builder Tulloch Homes for 56.4 million pounds ($75.0 million), and proposed a placing to help refinance part of the cash consideration.

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Amedeo Air Four Plus to Return GBP30 Mln to Shareholders; Reinstate Dividends in 2022

Amedeo Air Four Plus Ltd. said Wednesday that it will return 30 million pounds ($39.9 million) to shareholders via a partial compulsory redemption of ordinary shares on Dec. 8, and that the board intends to reinstate dividends in 2022.

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Drax Aims to Double Biomass Pellet Production, Sales by 2030

Drax Group PLC on Wednesday set targets to double both its biomass pellet production and sales by 2030.

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IG Group Proposes Sale of Small Exchange Stake and Nadex for $216 Mln

IG Group Holdings PLC said Wednesday that it has proposed the sale of North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. or Nadex, and its stake in Small Exchange, Inc. for around $216 million.

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Write to Sarka Halas at sarka.halas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 01, 2021 03:11 ET (08:11 GMT)

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