Company News
Hotel Chocolat warns over sales miss, shares slide
Hotel Chocolat warned on Thursday that full-year underlying pre-tax profit was set to break even, while sales will be slightly lower than market expectations after a weaker-than-expected performance over Easter, following a year of transition to re-shape the business.
First-half profits set to increase for Driver Group
Construction and engineering consultancy Driver Group said in a trading update on Thursday that it was expecting first-half revenue of £24. 2m, down slightly from £24. 4m year-on-year.
LSE posts better-than-expected Q1 income and gross profits
The London Stock Exchange posted better-than-expected income and gross profits for the first quarter, thanks to a strong showing by its Data and Analytics and Post Trade divisions.
Sainsburys lifts guidance despite squeeze on FY profits amid price war
UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's on Thursday lifted guidance for the current fiscal year after posting a fall in 2022/23 profits as it spent £560m to keep prices low in the battle for consumers amid the cost of living crisis.
Capricorn Energy shares slump despite $575m payout pledge
Troubled oil and gas producer Capricorn Energy is planning to give shareholders $575m in payouts after a failed merger, boardroom clearout and radical cut in operations.
Deutsche Boerse offers to buy SimCorp for €3.9bn, shares surge
Deutsche Boerse said on Thursday that it has offered to buy Danish software maker SimCorp for DKK29bn (€3. 9bn).
Petrofac losses widen amid 'legacy' portfolio challenges
Oilfield services company Petrofac reported a decline in revenue in its results on Thursday, to $2. 59bn in 2022 from $3. 04bn in the prior year.
Telecom Plus delivers 'record year of growth'
Multi-utility supplier Telecom Plus said on Thursday that it had delivered a "record year of growth", with almost 160,000 further households signing up with the business.
St James's Place reports slowdown in Q1 net inflows
St. James's Place reported a rise in its funds under management during the first quarter, despite the difficult comparisons with its strong year earlier performance.
Glencore expects Teck's withdrawal of separation proposal to unlock value
Mining company Glencore applauded Canadian miner Teck's decision to withdraw its separation proposal on Thursday, stating that "a simple and direct approach to separation" would provide a better path to unlocking value for shareholders.
Lancashire gross written premiums reach first-quarter record
Bermuda-domiciled insurer Lancashire reported a 22. 7% increase in first-quarter gross premiums written compared to the same period last year on Thursday, reaching $586. 2m.
Spectris holds guidance as Q1 sales rise 24% on strong order book
Precision instrument maker Spectris held annual guidance as first quarter sales rose 24% driven by a strong order book and easing of supply chain constraints.
Ibstock Q1 EBITDA 'marginally ahead' despite subdued demand environment
Ibstock said on Thursday that first-quarter EBITDA was marginally ahead of its expectations despite a "subdued" demand environment in both the residential new build and repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) markets.
Howden Joinery 'on track' after encouraging start to 2023
Trade kitchen and joinery supplier Howden Joinery said on Thursday that it was on track to meet expectations for the year after an "encouraging" start to 2023.
Weir delivers 'strong execution' in Q1, orders grow
Engineering company Weir said on Thursday that it had delivered both "order growth and strong execution" in the first quarter, with its margin expansion programme said to be on track.
Inchcape upbeat on solid first quarter of trading
Automotive distributor Inchcape reported a positive start to the year in a first-quarter update on Thursday, with its full-year results set to be in line with published market consensus.
Unilever maintains dividend after strong first quarter
Consumer goods giant Unilever described a strong start to the year on Thursday, with underlying sales growth of 10. 5% in the first quarter.
Glencore buys stake in Brazil assets from Norsk Hydro for $700m
Miner and commodities trader Glencore said it was buying a 30% stake in Brazilian alumina refinery Alunorte and a 5% stake in bauxite producer Mineracao Rio do Norte from Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro for around $700m.
Taylor Wimpey backs FY guidance as it points to recovery in demand
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey backed its full-year guidance on Thursday as it pointed to a continued recovery in demand from the low levels experienced towards the end of last year.
EMA adopts 'positive opinion' of GSK's RSV vaccine candidate
GSK updated the market on its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate for older adults on Thursday, reporting that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had adopted a positive opinion by consensus.