FTSE 100 Edges Up on Global Gains

FTSE 100 Rises After Gains in Asia, Wall Street

0748 GMT - The FTSE 100 climbs 0.1% to 7626 points after gains in Asian stocks and a higher U.S. close Thursday. U.K. sentiment is "marginally buoyed by the global gains elsewhere, but share price movements in early trade were dominated by broker notes, with upgrades to the likes of Beazley, International Consolidated Airlines and Pearson providing early boosts, while on the flipside the red pens were taken to some stocks within the utility and banking sectors, such as SSE and NatWest," Interactive Investor analyst Richard Hunter writes. Meanwhile, data Friday showed the U.K. economy grew 0.1% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter, up from an earlier estimate of flat growth. ([e-mail])

 
Companies News: 

Rio Tinto and First Quantum to Form JV for La Granja Copper Project in Peru

Rio Tinto PLC said Friday that it will form a joint venture with the Canadian First Quantum Minerals Ltd. to develop the La Granja copper project in Peru.

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Rolls-Royce Names Helen McCabe Chief Finance Officer

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC said Friday that Helen McCabe will join the board as chief financial officer later in the year.

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Vanquis Banking 2022 Pretax Profit Rose on Loan Book Growth

Vanquis Banking Group PLC on Friday reported a rise in 2022 pretax profit as it saw strong loan book growth across its businesses and said it has seen positive momentum from the fourth quarter continue into 2023.

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Abingdon Health 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed on Lower Costs

Abingdon Health PLC said Friday that its pretax loss narrowed for the first half of fiscal 2023 after booking lower costs, and that it expects revenue in the second half to be significantly ahead of that seen in the first half.

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James Halstead First Half Pretax Profit Fell on Higher Costs, But Sees Pressures Easing

James Halstead PLC said Friday that pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2023 fell on the back of higher expenses, despite reaching record revenue levels, but expects inflationary pressures and logistic costs to improve.

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NCC Group Cuts Fiscal 2023 Adjusted Operating Profit Guidance

NCC Group PLC on Friday lowered its adjusted operating profit guidance for fiscal 2023 citing the further deterioration of the macro-economic and market environment on its businesses.

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Dignity Swings to 2022 Pretax Loss on Higher Admin Cost, Impairment Charge

Dignity PLC said Friday that it swung to a pretax loss in 2022 due to higher administrative expenses and impairment charge.

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3i Infrastructure Says Portfolio Performed Strongly in 2H

3i Infrastructure PLC said that its portfolio performed strongly in the second half of fiscal 2023, and that the preparations for the potential divestment of portfolio company Attero were at an advanced stage.

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Inchcape to Buy Mercedes-Benz's Indonesian Business in JV With Local Partner

Inchcape PLC said Friday that it has agreed to buy Mercedes-Benz Group AG's Indonesian business in a joint venture with local partner Indomobil Sukses Internasional.

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On the Beach Names Jon Wormald as New CFO, Sets Date for New CEO Start

On the Beach Group PLC said Friday that it has appointed Jon Wormald as new chief financial officer, effective June 30, at which point the company's previously announced succession plan will be enacted.

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Parkmead Shares Fall After 1H Swing to Pretax Loss on License Impairments

Parkmead Group PLC shares fell on Friday after the group reported a swing to pretax loss dragged by one-off impairments despite a revenue jump.

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Goldplat 1H Pretax Profit Fell on Lower Ghana, South Africa Revenue

Goldplat PLC said Friday that pretax profit fell for the first half of fiscal 2023 as revenue at the Ghana and South Africa recovery operations declined.

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Shearwater Shares Fall After Warning of FY 2023 Market Expectations Miss

Shearwater Group PLC shares fell Friday after the group said that it expects its fiscal 2023 performance to significantly miss market expectations on the back of a worse-than-previously anticipated costumer backdrop.

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Computacenter Posts Stable 2022 Pretax Profit, Names New CFO

Computacenter PLC on Friday posted a 2022 pretax profit broadly in line with the previous year and named a new chief financial officer.

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UnitedHealth Takeover of EMIS Faces Further UK Competition Investigation

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said on Friday that it will refer the UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s 1.24 billion-pound ($1.54 billion) deal to buy EMIS Group PLC to a phase two investigation.

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De La Rue Considering Content of Requisition Notice to Remove Chairman Kevin Loosemore

De La Rue PLC said Friday that the board was considering the contents and legality of a requisition notice requesting a general meeting to vote on removing Chairman Kevin Loosemore and appoint Pepyn Dinandt as chairman of the board.

 
Market Talk: 

Oil Ticks Up Ahead of PCE Data

0743 GMT - Oil prices ticked lower ahead of a gauge of inflation looked to by Federal Reserve policymakers to shape their outlook on interest rates. Brent crude inches down 0.3% to $78.33 a barrel while WTI declines 0.2% to $74.25 a barrel. The Personal Consumption Expenditures index is due for release at 1230 GMT and is expected to show price pressures eased month on month but remained steady on year. A stronger-than-expected reading could raise concerns that the Fed will need to keep monetary policy tighter for longer. ([e-mail])

Contact: London NewsPlus; [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 31, 2023 04:08 ET (08:08 GMT)

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