Market Pulse
Reach shares rally as optimistic guidance offsets revenue decline
Shares in publishing firm Reach rallied early on Thursday as optimistic guidance helped offset news of a decline in first-quarter revenues.
International Personal Finance posts solid first quarter
International Personal Finance announced a solid first-quarter performance on Thursday, with customer lending rising 5% excluding Poland, with demand steadily improving as the quarter progressed.
London open: Stocks rise as StanChart, Smurfit rally
London stocks rose in early trade on Thursday, helped along by solid performances from the likes of Standard Chartered and Smurfit Kappa, as investors mulled the latest policy announcement from the Federal Reserve.
Capita names new CFO
Business process services group Capita revealed on Thursday chief financial officer Tim Weller has signalled his intention to retire from the company in August.
Novo Nordisk posts Q1 beat on strength of weight-loss drug
Danish pharmaceutical superstar Novo Nordisk beat first-quarter profit projections, it reported on Thursday, as demand for its blockbuster weight-loss drugs soared.
Grafton revenues fall amid market weakness
Grafton Group reported a 5% decrease in year-to-date revenue in an update on Thursday, to £669. 2m for the period from 1 January to 21 April, with a 3. 3% decline in constant currency.
Arkle raises £0.27m to advance lithium programme
Irish gold and zine explorer Arkle Resources announced on Thursday that it has raised £0. 27m before expenses to advance its lithium programme.
Lancashire reports robust first quarter, makes executive appointment
Specialist insurer and reinsurer Lancashire Holdings reported a robust first-quarter performance in an update on Thursday, as it also announced the appointment of Paul Gregory as an executive director.
Standard Chartered posts jump in Q1 profits
Standard Chartered backed its full-year guidance on Thursday and posted a jump in first-quarter profit as it continued to benefit from higher interest rates.
Diploma acquires PAR Group for £38m
Distribution company Diploma announced the acquisition of PAR Group on Thursday for £38m.
Hiscox Q1 written premiums underpinned by Retail growth
Hiscox reported a rise in first-quarter written premiums on Thursday as it benefited from accelerated growth in the retail segment.
Smurfit Kappa reports 'very strong' first quarter
Smurfit Kappa Group reported robust first-quarter revenue of €2. 7bn in an update on Thursday, alongside EBITDA of €487m, making for an EBITDA margin of 18. 0%.
London pre-open: Stocks seen up amid corporate deluge
London stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday as investors braced for a barrage of corporate news, including results from Shell and Standard Chartered.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Online gamblers, PwC, London taxi drivers
Online gamblers who lose £500 or more a month are to face extra checks from August, the regulator has confirmed, as part of a large package of measures aimed at protecting the most vulnerable customers. The extra checks come in from 30 August, and the threshold for qualifying will fall to £150 of online betting losses a month from 28 February next year, the Gambling Commission said. – Guardian.