Market Pulse
Shaftesbury looking to change conditions of stock
Shaftesbury announced on Thursday morning that it has held discussions with certain holders of its £61,048,148 8. 5% first mortgage debenture stock due 2024, about a proposal to amend the terms and conditions of the stock.
Serco surges as it swings to H1 profit, lifts guidance
FTSE 250 outsourcing group Serco said it swung to a profit in the first half as it lifted its guidance for the year.
Production downtime hits Randgold second quarter
Randgold Resources posted its second quarter production results on Thursday, and said production and costs were hit in the three months to June by a long mill downtime at Tongon and the Kibali plant's continuing transition to a mixed-ore feed, but added the improvement expected in the second half of the year should boost its 2016 results to within its market guidance.
London open: Stocks flat ahead of Bank of England announcement
London stocks opened in muted fashion on Thursday as investors kept their powder dry ahead of the Bank of England's monthly policy decision and quarterly Inflation Report.
RSA Insurance operating profit up 20% in first half
RSA Insurance reported a drop in pre-tax profit but a rise in operating profit for the first half, as it lifted its dividend.
Aviva written premiums and operating profits rise
Insurance giant Aviva posted its interim results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with operating profit rising 13% to £1. 325bn and operating earnings per share improving 1% to 22. 4p.
London pre-open: Stocks set for muted start ahead of BoE rate announcement
London stocks looked set for a muted open on Thursday as investors eyed the latest rate announcement and Inflation Report from the Bank of England.
EasyJet traffic up 6.7% in July
Traffic at low-cost carrier EasyJet was up 6. 7% in July to 7. 5m passengers, while the load factor – which gauges how full the flights were – nudged up to 95. 8% from 94. 3%.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Brexit, corporation tax, UK supermarkets
The French are blasé about Brexit while Swedes are more saddened than others in Europe by the UK’s vote to exit the EU, according to a survey. A 16-country poll by Ipsos Mori showed that almost half — 48 per cent — of respondents from Sweden said they were dismayed by the UK’s decision. It was a different story in France, where only a quarter of respondents said they were sad about Brexit. – Financial Times.