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Vanquis Banking H1 losses widen amid transformation efforts
Sub-prime lender Vanquis Banking said on Thursday that interim losses had widened even as it made "good progress" on its transformation efforts.
Europe open: Stocks in the red as car makers slump
European stocks fell in early trade on Thursday, dragged lower by weak performances from the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Societe Generale.
Next raises profit guidance after strong first half
Next raised its profit guidance for the full year by £20m to £980m on Thursday, representing a 6. 7% increase compared to last year, following a robust sales performance in the first half.
Vesuvius lowers full-year expectations
Vesuvius tumbled on Thursday after it said end markets were weaker than expected in the first half and that full-year headline trading profit was set to be "only slightly ahead" of last year on a constant currency basis.
Smith & Nephew H1 profits come in ahead of expectations
Medical equipment manufacturer Smith & Nephew said on Thursday that interim profits had come in ahead of market expectations, thanks in no small part to the company's 12-point turnaround plan.
London open: FTSE nudges up ahead of BoE, amid earnings barrage
London stocks nudged higher in early trade on Thursday as investors waded through a deluge of corporate news and eyed the latest policy announcement from the Bank of England.
BAE Systems lifts full-year guidance as H1 earnings rise
Defence and aerospace firm BAE Systems lifted its full-year guidance on Thursday as it posted a jump in underlying sales and earnings for the first half.
Barclays raises interest guidance despite fall in first-half income
Barclays reported a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 11. 1% for its first half on Thursday, down from 13. 2% in the same period last year, with profit before tax slipping to £4. 2b from £4. 6bn, although it raised its full-year net interest income guidance.
China Caixin manufacturing PMI deteriorates in July
Activity in China’s manufacturing sector deteriorated more than expected in July, according to data released on Thursday.
Shell Q2 earnings beat expectations, $3.5bn share buyback launched
Oil giant Shell reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter on Thursday as it announced a $3. 5bn share buyback.
UK annual house price growth fastest since December 2022 - Nationwide
UK house prices rose in July at the fastest annual rate since December 2022, according to data released by Nationwide on Thursday.
London pre-open: Stocks seen up ahead of BoE announcement
London stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday following strong gains on Wall Street after Fed chair Jerome Powell put a September rate cut on the table, and as investors eyed an expected rate cut from the Bank of England later in the day.
Barclays hikes net interest guidance, Next raises full-year forecast
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to open 30 points higher on Thursday, having closed up 1. 13% on Wednesday at 8,367. 98.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Meta, Mohsin Issa, Arm Holdings
Meta’s shares rose in after-hours trading on Wednesday off the back of a strong earnings report that comes as the company is spending heavily on AI tools. The company’s stock price grew around 5% following the report, which revealed the company outperformed analysts’ expectations for its second quarter. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reported $39. 07bn in revenue and $5. 16 earnings per share. Both results outpaced market predictions of around $38bn in revenue and $4.
Sector movers: FTSE 350 outperforms as miners and oil stocks gain
Gains for industrial miners and oil stocks saw the FTSE 350 outperform its counterparts on the Continent on Wednesday.
US close: Stocks surge as Powell puts September cut on the table
Hawkish comments from the head of the Federal Reserve ignited US stocks on Wednesday with hopes rising for an interest-rate cut at the central bank's next meeting in September.