Market Pulse
Sophos' first quarter revenue rises
Cloud security provider Sophos’ first quarter revenues grew due to an increase in subscription revenues.
US pre-open: Stock futures fall on disappointing earnings
US stock futures dropped on Thursday as investors weighed a hawkish statement from the Federal Reserve and disappointing earnings from Ford Motor and ConocoPhillips.
Ford's second quarter profit falls after poor US and China returns
Ford Motor Company's second quarter results failed to reach the projections given by analyst estimates, as the company's shares fell almost 7% to $12. 88 in premarket trading.
Depressed oil market pushes Bodycote earnings lower
Bodycote published its interim results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with group revenue down 2. 9% to £291m.
Henderson Group talks up strength in interim results
Henderson Group published its interim results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with assets under management up 3% to £95. 0bn when compared to the start of the period.
Melrose Industries slides in first half as it snaps up Nortek
Melrose Industries posted its interim results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, reiterating that Brush was performing in line with expectations in a “tough market”.
Acquisitions and weaker sterling help Spectris through first half
Productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company Spectris posted its half-year results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with reported sales growth of 3% to £581. 4m.
International Personal Finance slumps as Mexico problems hit profits
Profits slumped by more than a quarter at International Personal Finance in the first half as the company continued to endure ongoing problems in Mexico and invested further in its digital capabilities.
Royal Dutch Shell profits slump, miss forecasts by $1bn
Royal Dutch Shell’s second quarter profits dropped 72% due to lower oil prices and narrower refining margins, though the dividend was held steady despite a stonking 94% fall in earnings.
London midday: FTSE falls as traders sift through corporate earnings
London stocks were under the cosh on Thursday as traders waded through a flood of corporate earnings on the FTSE 350.
House prices grow in July but too early to tell Brexit impact, says Nationwide
House price growth was steady in July but it’s too early tell if there is any impact from Brexit, according to Nationwide on Thursday.
National Express' revenue rises due to overseas expansion
Transport operator National Express’ revenues jumped 14. 4% to £1. 1bn in the first half of the year, in line with expectations, due to expansion abroad.
Cineworld buys five cinemas from Empire for £94m
Cinema operator Cineworld bought five cinemas from Empire Cinemas for about £94m and sold to Empire its three-screen cinema in Haymarket.
Europe midday: Stocks mostly down despite encouraging EC sentiment survey
European stocks were mostly in the red by noon on Thursday with a positive survey on eurozone economic confidence failing to coax all but Germany's equity benchmark onto the front foot, after mixed signals from the Federal Reserve overnight and ahead of Japan's stimulus decision on Friday.
European economic sentiment remains stable despite Brexit
Economic and consumer confidence in Europe remained low but surprised economists by showing no sign of waning since the UK’s decision to exit the European Union, according to the latest sentiment survey.
Diageo posts positive organic growth, while reported sales slide
International distilling giant Diageo posted its preliminary results for the year to 30 June on Thursday, reporting an improvement in organic results with volume growth of 1. 3%, net sales growth of 2. 8% to £10. 485bn, and operating profit growth of 3. 5% to £3. 008bn.
Countrywide rebounds despite interim profit squeeze post-Brexit
Countrywide said the slowdown in the housing market has worsened since June’s Brexit vote, sending half-year profits in the estate agent shooting down but lifting its shares as investors had feared it would be even worse.
Asia report: Markets mixed as BoJ meeting continues
Markets in Asia finished Thursday mixed, with investors wading their way through earnings season and looking towards the outcome of the Bank of Japan’s two-day policy meeting on Friday.
Paypoint says first quarter trading in line with expectations
Paypoint said on Thursday trading for the first quarter remains in line with its expectations with revenue up 3% to £51m.
Sports Direct sprints higher on share buyback flip-flop
Having played down the prospect earlier in the month, Sports Direct has decided to try and boost its waning share price with a proposed £90m buyback of around 5% of its shares, which it hopes to increase later in the year.