Market Pulse
APC Tech sells water treatment division for £1.8m
APC Technology Group has sold its water hygiene and treatment division to Integrated Water Service (IWS) for £1. 8m, in order for the company to significantly reduce fixed costs and focus on growing its other businesses.
United Utilities boosted by SocGen upgrade
United Utilities got a boost on Thursday as Societe Generale upgraded the stock to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’, noting that recent share price weakness now implies a total shareholder return of 18%.
Hargreaves Lansdown's revenues lifted by Brexit but uncertainty looms
Hargreaves Lansdown’s first quarter revenue increased but the financial services company was affected by low investor confidence in the wake of the Brexit result from the EU referendum as new business flows fell.
Unilever takes 3.4% currency hit in third quarter as Tesco Marmite row erupts
As supermarkets pulled Marmite and several of its other brands from their shelves over a pricing dispute, Unilever posted forecast-beating underlying sales and a 28. 9p dividend amid tough third-quarter conditions.
House prices helped by demand rebound and historic supply low, RICS says
Surveyors reported an unexpected increase in house prices in the last three months as demand rose but the supply of new homes for sale dropped off and numbers for sale in London dropped to a historic low.
Ashtead assures on trading while sterling continues to assist
Equipment rental group Ashtead confirmed both its US and UK businesses remained on course to meet full year expectations.
Heavy inflows and weak sterling carry Jupiter Fund Management
Jupiter Fund Management issued a trading update on Thursday for the three months to 30 September, with overall net inflows during the quarter of £789m.
ICAP buys Abide to capitalise on increased financial regulations
Inter-dealer broker Icap has acquired regulatory reporting specialist Abide Financial for an undisclosed fee in order to capitalise on ever-increasing financial regulations.
Europe open: Resources pace the decline after weak China data
European stocks fell in early trade, with basic resources pacing the decline following weak Chinese trade data, as investors digested the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve.
Hochschild Mining claims record production in Q3
Hochschild Mining published its production report for the three months to 30 September on Thursday, claiming record attributable production during the quarter.
Sports Direct finance chief resigns
Sports Direct will part company with chief financial officer (CFO) Matt Pearson at the end of the year, with the announcement coming less than week after the troubled sports retailer delivered yet another profit warning.
Focus on profits pays of for WH Smith
Book, stationery and news retailer WH Smith posted its preliminary results for the year to 31 August on Thursday, with group profit before tax up 8% to £131m and diluted earnings per share 10% higher at 93. 9p.
Booker interim sales and profit up, on track for FY
FTSE 250 food wholesaler Booker, which owns Londis and Budgens, reported a jump in interim sales and profit as it hiked its dividend and expressed confidence in achieving its full-year expectations.
Mondi profit edges up in third quarter
Paper and packaging group Mondi reported an increase in third-quarter underlying operating profit compared to a year ago and said it expects to be benefit from higher selling prices as it moves into 2017.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Brexit bill, Tesco/Unilever, rail delays
Britain is facing a divorce bill from the EU for as much as €20bn, according to a Financial Times analysis that shows the bloc’s shared budget is emerging as one of the biggest political obstacles to a Brexit deal. More than €300bn of shared payment liabilities will need to be settled in the divorce reckoning, according to EU accounts. It is a legacy of joint financial obligations stretching back decades — from pension pledges and multi-annual contracts to commitments to fund infrastructure projects — that Brussels will insist the UK must honour.
Sky makes strong start to financial year
Subscription broadcaster and broadband provider Sky posted an update to its first quarter trading on Thursday, with group revenue up 7% to £3. 1bn and like-for-like revenue up 5%.
London pre-open: Stocks seen lower as investors digest Fed minutes
Stocks in London were set to open lower on Thursday as the recent rally begins to lose momentum, with investors digesting the latest Federal Reserve minutes.
Commodities: OPEC´s production hits highest level since at least 2008
Commodity prices slid lower, with agricultural and energy futures registering the steepest declines.