News And Announcements
Tobacco stocks smoked as US regulator sparks nicotine-reduction plan
Big tobacco stocks got smoked on Friday as US regulators said they planned to lower nicotine levels in an effort to lower the number of tobacco-related deaths, though analysts had mixed opinion over which companies were benefiting from the plans.
Acacia Mining reports 'increased pressure' from Tanzania government
A senior Acacia Mining staff member was detained and their passport seized by the Tanzanian authorities, with the London-listed company reporting "increased levels of pressure" from the government on its employees amid a dispute over exports and taxes.
Savills buys Spain's Aguirre Newman for EUR67m
Savills has announced the acquisition of Spanish real estate advisory business, Aguirre Newman, for up to €67m, which is payable in instalments over five years from completion.
7digital confident in 2018 profitability
Digital music and radio services company 7digital performed well in the first half of the year, it reported on Friday, with total group revenue up 13% to £5. 93m.
Rotork CEO resigns as board seeks 'higher growth in low growth environment'
Rotork chief executive Peter France has tendered his resignation from the engineering group, "after a period of reflection by the board".
Gfinity 'Elite Series' to feature on BBC Three
International esports company Gfinity signed a contract with the British Broadcasting Corporation, it announced on Thursday, to broadcast its newly launched Elite Series from the Gfinity Arena in London.
Virtual IBANs push Boxhill in first half
Boxhill Technologies said it had seen improvements across the payments division since the beginning of the year, in a trading update on Friday, both in revenue and technology roll out.
Analysts have mixed feelings on Barclays 'messy' results
On the face of it, Barclays' first-half results beat City consensus forecasts but analysts had mixed feelings after digging deeper into the numbers.
Barclays slips to second quarter loss after GBP700m PPI charge
Barclays produced a mixed set of interim with some profits better and some worse than expected due in part to putting aside an extra £700m for PPI mis-selling compensation, while its pensions black hole more than doubled.
MySQUAR confirms fundraise as it looks to mobile payments
Myanmar-language social media, entertainment and payments platform MySQUAR was forced to respond to recent media speculation over a potential fundraise on Friday, confirming that a placing was in the process of being arranged.
Touchstone Exploration bags gongs at Petrotrin awards
Trinidad and Tobago-focussed onshore oil and gas exploration and production company Touchstone Exploration received two awards at the Petrotrin 5th Annual Production Health, Safety and Environment Leadership Forum, the company announced on Friday.
IMI beats 1H forecasts, guides higher for the full-year
IMI's first half profits edged past analysts' forecasts with the engineer guiding higher for the full-year, citing the impact of its reorganisation activities and expectations for a modest improvement in its margins.
Friday broker round-up
AstraZeneca: Morgan Stanley downgrades to Equal Weight with a target price of 4700p.
Essentra earnings down as Forman attempts turnaround
Plastic and fibre products producer Essentra reported declines in revenue, adjusted profit and earnings per share in its first half results on Friday, which it said reflected a continuation of tough trading conditions seen recently.
Workspace in £200m private placement to fund investment plans
Workspace has priced a £200m private placement made up of £80m eight-year notes and £120m 10-year notes to fund the group's investment plans.
Johnson Matthey confident as clean air offsets battery declines
Chemicals group Johnson Matthey said the first quarter saw low single-digit sales growth at constant exchange rates but with the weak pound boosting sales to double-digit growth, resulting in no change to guidance for the full year.
Allworld acquisition lifts UBM in first half
Business information and events group UBM reported revenue of £448. 4m in its first half on Friday - an improvement of 18% year-on-year, or 8. 3% at constant currencies.
Morgan Advanced Materials
Morgan Advanced Materials saw revenue rise 9. 2% to £518. 9m in its first half, it reported on Friday, although the improvement was only 0. 2% on an organic constant currency basis.
BT rings in lower earnings, shuffles executive team
Earnings at BT fell in the first quarter, the telecommunications group reported on Friday, with adjusted EBITDA down 2% to £1. 79bn, while reported revenue was 1% higher at £5. 84bn.
Rightmove H1 profit and revenue rise, confident over full year
FTSE 250 property website Rightmove reported a rise in first-half profit and revenue on Friday.