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United Utilities FY profits grow amid Windermere sewage spill controversy
United Utilities said on Thursday that both revenue and operating profits had grown in the twelve months ended 31 March as it continues to be engulfed in a massive sewage spill controversy.
Future to return £45m to investors, shares soar
Future unveiled plans to return a further £45m to shareholders on Thursday, sending the shares higher, despite a fall in half-year revenues and profits.
London open: FTSE falls as ex-dividend stocks weigh
London stocks fell in early trade on Thursday amid a deluge of corporate news, dragged lower by ex-dividend shares.
Siemens revenue stable despite fall in orders
Siemens reported relatively stable revenue in its second quarter on Thursday, despite a 12% decline in comparable orders, reflecting a high volume of large orders in the mobility segment.
First-quarter earnings jump at Helios Towers
Telecom equipment specialist Helios Towers reiterated its full-year outlook on Thursday, after a jump in first-quarter earnings.
Convatec shares slump on wound care uncertainty
Shares in medtech group Convatec slumped on Thursday despite the company keeping its top-level guidance for 2024, though growth forecasts in the Advanced Wound Care division have been reduced due to "short-term uncertainty".
Rental income rises as Grainger reports robust demand
Listed residential landlord Grainger reported an 11% increase in first-half net rental income on Thursday, to £53. 2m, continuing its upward trajectory since its ‘strategic restart’ in 2016.
Auction Technology maintains guidance despite earnings fall
Auction Technology Group reported 6% growth in first-half revenue on Thursday, to $86m (£67. 81m), driven by strong growth in value-added services and contributions from ‘EstateSales’.
Sage Group shares fall on guidance downgrade
Sage Group shares were well into the red on Thursday morning, despite reporting a robust first-half performance, as the company downgraded its guidance.
BT impresses with cost-savings plan despite profit slump
Telecoms giant BT saw shares pop on Thursday despite reporting a 31% drop in annual profits in the year to 31 March, as the company laid out plans to save £3bn of costs a year by the end of the decade.
AstraZeneca's Covid drug meets trial endpoints
AstraZeneca said on Thursday that its investigative drug sipavibart had shown positive results in preventing Covid-19 in vulnerable patients.
Tritax EuroBox annualised rent shrinks after disposals
Logistics-focussed property investor Tritax EuroBox reported a 10. 1% increase in IFRS rental income to €35. 9m (£30. 8m) on Thursday, driven by rent indexations, asset management initiatives, and the conversion of rental guarantees into income.
Vistry lifts housebuilding target as forward sales surge
Vistry lifted its annual homebuilding target to more than 18,000 driven by a 10% year-on-year rise in forward sales.
Revenue slips further amid tough market for Tyman
Window and door components supplier Tyman reported a 5% decrease in group revenue for the period from 1 January to 30 April on Thursday, to £205m, reflecting a 4% decline on a like-for-like basis.
EasyJet chief to step down next year
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren is to step down after more than seven years in the role, the budget carrier said on Thursday.
Premier Foods full-year results beat expectations
Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods said on Thursday that its full-year performance was ahead of expectations and it returned to volume growth in the fourth quarter.
London pre-open: Stocks seen up after positive US close
London stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday following a positive close on Wall Street, amid a deluge of corporate news.
BT posts fall in profits, Sage reports first half growth
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to open 22 points higher on Thursday, having closed up 0. 21% on Wednesday at 8,445. 80.
Thursday newspaper round-up: JCB, M&S, smart meters
The British digger maker JCB, owned by the billionaire Bamford family, continued to build and supply equipment for the Russian market months after saying it had stopped exports because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Guardian can reveal. Russian customs records show that JCB, whose owners are major donors to the Conservative party, continued to make new products available for Russian dealers well after 2 March 2022, when the company publicly stated that it had “voluntarily paused exports” to Russia.
US close: Stocks higher following CPI reading
Wall Street stocks closed higher on Wednesday as market participants digested April's all-important consumer price index report.