Clarkson, PageGroup post jump in first-half profit

London pre-open

The FTSE 100 was called to open 10 points higher at 7,458.

Stocks to watch

Shipping services company Clarkson reported a jump in interim profit, driven by its broking division.

Pre-tax profit rose to £42m from £27.3m.

Recruiter PageGroup posted a rise in first-half pre-tax profit and revenue, as it hailed a strong performance across its geographies, disciplines and brands.

Newspaper round-up

City workers received double-digit wage rises while people on the lowest incomes were paid annual increases of just 1% in the last year, according to a study that illustrates the ability of better-paid workers to protect themselves from the cost of living crisis. The CEBR (Centre for Economics and Business Research) said workers in the banking and insurance sector had secured inflation-busting increases together with lawyers, accountants and professional services staff, mainly among those working in London’s financial district. – Guardian

UK charities are warning people of the severe consequences of not paying their energy bills, as a campaign to stop payments from October gains momentum. The Don’t Pay UK group, which is demanding a reduction of bills to an affordable level, has reportedly gathered support from 80,000 people who intend to cancel their direct debit payments from 1 October, when the regulator raises the energy price cap, the maximum amount suppliers are allowed to charge. – Guardian

The foreign takeover of Britain’s main natural gas pipeline is to be reviewed under new national security rules amid mounting fears of a winter energy crisis. Ministers have launched an investigation into the sale of a 60pc stake in National Grid’s gas transmission business to a consortium led by the Australian investment business Macquarie. – Telegraph

US close

US stocks closed mostly lower on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% to 32,803.47, but the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq fell 0.2% and 0.5% respectively to 4,145.19 and 12,657.55.