LONDON MARKET OPEN: Green start for FTSE 100 with Next shares rallying
Thu, 1st Apr 2021 08:44
(Alliance News) -Â London got off to a solid start to Thursday s session after US President Joe Biden unveiled his latest spending plans, looking to pump USD2 trillion into infrastructure.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index also was given a bost as Next shares rallied on an improved profit outlook for the year ahead.
The FTSE 100 was up 26.11 points, or 0.4%, at 6,739.74 early Thursday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was up 120.16 points or 0.6%, at 21,638.87. The AIM All-Share index was up 0.2% at 1,199.67.
The Cboe UK 100 index was up 0.1% at 671.80. The Cboe 250 was up 0.3% at 19,330.30, but the Cboe Small Companies down 0.1% at 13,870.75.
LONDON MARKET PRE-OPEN: Next raises profit guidance on online strength
Thu, 1st Apr 2021 07:43
(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set for an upbeat end to an abbreviated week as markets in New York and Asia registered gains overnight, shaking off fresh lockdown measures in France.
In early UK company news, Next s full-year profit dived, as expected, though guidance was raised for the year ahead, Quilter has agreed to sell Quilter International for GBP483 million and Equiniti posted a loss for 2020 with its chief financial officer set to depart.
IG says futures indicate the FTSE 100 index of large-caps to open up 24.47 points, or 0.4%, at 6738.1 on Thursday. The FTSE 100 closed down 58.49 points, or 0.9%, at 6,713.63 on Wednesday.
SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: Equiniti shares fall on swing to 2020 loss
Thu, 1st Apr 2021 10:54
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
Galliford Try Holdings PLC, up 2.8% at 130.56 pence, 12-month range 70p-167.06p. The construction group says its Environment arm has been appointed to Scottish Water s new Non-Infrastructure Framework for the SR21-27 investment programme, in joint venture with MWH Treatment. The new framework is valued at GBP700 million over six years beginning this year, and will see the 50-50 joint venture, known as ESD, support the capital delivery functions of Scottish Water.
Equiniti swings to loss as low rates and cancelled dividends hit sales
Thu, 1st Apr 2021 10:31
(Alliance News) - Equiniti Group PLC on Thursday reported a pretax loss and a drop in revenue for 2020, as the payment and financial administration services provider was hurt by companies cancelling dividends and central banks cutting interest rates.
Shares were down 3.1% to 125.25 pence in London.
The Crawley, West Sussex-based company swung to a pretax loss of GBP6.6 million, after making a GBP39.8 million profit in 2019. Revenue fell 15% to GBP471.8 million from GBP555.7 million.
Equiniti will not pay a dividend for 2020, after paying 1.95 pence per share the previous year. It said it will resume dividends once new orders translate into profit growth, leverage falls and free cash flow to equity holders continues.
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