Market Pulse
London close: Stocks finish choppy day in the red
London stocks ended in negative territory on Wednesday, influenced by a downturn in retail sales data for June.
Director dealings: Real Estate Investors, Landsec execs make trades
Among the director dealings disclosed to the market on Wednesday were two transactions involving senior executives from Real Estate Investors and Land Securities, respectively.
Bosch weighing offer for Whirlpool - report
German engineering group Robert Bosch is reportedly considering a bid for US appliance maker Whirlpool.
MNC Capital lifts takeover bid for Vista Outdoor to $3.2bn
MNC Capital Partners said on Wednesday that it has upped its all-cash takeover offer for Vista Outdoor to $42 per share, or $3. 2bn, from $39. 50 earlier in the month.
First Property swings to full-year loss
UK and central Europe-focussed property fund manager and investor First Property Group reported a statutory loss before tax of £4. 41m in its preliminary results on Wednesday, swinging from a £2. 49m profit before tax recorded in the prior year.
Creo Medical reports year of solid progress
Surgical endoscopy medical device specialist Creo Medical Group reported solid progress over the last 12 months in an update on Wednesday, as it leveraged funds from the March 2023 equity raise to advance its strategic goals.
Haleon to sell NRT business outside of the US to Dr Reddy’s for £500m
Haleon said on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) business outside of the US to Dr Reddy's Laboratories for £500m.
Panthera issues update on Bhukia dispute, secures litigation funding
Gold explorer and developer Panthera Resources updated the market on the ongoing dispute with the Republic of India over the Bhukia project on Wednesday, confirming that it had secured litigation financing for the dispute.
Learning Technologies offloads VectorVMS in $50m deal
Learning Technologies Group announced the sale of its VectorVMS business to PIXID Group on Wednesday, for $50m.
London midday: FTSE pares gains as retail sales slump
London stocks had pared some gains by midday on Wednesday, as data showed that retail sales slumped in June.
Apax Global confirms chairman's retirement, kicks off buyback
Apax Global Alpha confirmed the retirement of Tim Breedon CBE from his position as chairman and director on Wednesday, effective 1 July.
Volex posts record full-year profits
Power and data transmission technology specialist Volex reported record profits in its preliminary results on Wednesday, with a 26. 3% increase in revenue to $912. 8m, up from $722. 8m year-on-year.
HSS Hire backs full-year earnings guidance
HSS Hire backed its full-year earnings guidance on Wednesday ahead of its annual general meeting.
Braveheart buys 1.93 million more Autins shares
Braveheart Investment Group announced the acquisition of an additional 1. 93 million shares in its portfolio company Autins Group on Wednesday.
Asia report: Markets higher despite rise in Aussie inflation
Markets in the Asia-Pacific region were mostly in the green on Wednesday, as chip stocks followed Nvidia’s rise on Wall Street overnight.
Warpaint reports robust trading in first half
Cosmetics supplier Warpaint London, owner of the W7 and Technic brands, reported a robust trading performance ahead of its annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Jefferies double upgrades Future to ‘buy’, shares surge
Future surged on Wednesday as Jefferies upgraded the shares to ‘buy’ from ‘underperform’ and hiked the price target to 1,280p from 635p.
AO World full-year profits top guidance
Online electricals retailer AO World posted a surge in full-year profit on Wednesday, topping its own guidance range as its plan to pivot the business to focus on profit and cash generation bore fruit.
Marks Electrical reports record full-year revenue
Marks Electrical Group reported record full-year revenue of £114. 3m in its final results on Wednesday, marking a 16. 9% increase from £97. 8m in 2023, and a significant doubling of revenue since the £56m it recorded in 2021, the year prior to its listing.
Tandem Group on track to meet full-year expectations
Sports, leisure and mobility equipment specialist Tandem Group said in an update on Wednesday that it remained on track to meet market expectations for the year ending 31 December 2024.