News And Announcements
Evraz reports higher steel product output
Shares in Evraz jumped after the steelmaker reported that consolidated crude steel output was at 3. 5m tonnes during the final three months of 2017, unchanged from the prior quarter.
BP and Shell eyeing first purchases of Libyan crude in four years
Royal Dutch Shell and BP are said to have agreed to annual purchase deals of Libyan crude on Thursday as recovering production levels from the North African nation and decreased security fears began to draw in several of the world's largest oil companies.
Barratt Developments in JV with Swindon Council
Barratt Developments and Swindon Council on Thursday said they had formed a joint venture to develop approximately 250 hectares of land with around 2,670 new homes over the next 20 years.
Most Ryanair pilots accept increased pay offer
Ryanair pilots have mostly agreed to accept pay increases from the budget airline of up to 20%, which will be put in place for January's payroll.
E-commerce focus a winner for Eddie Stobart
Eddie Stobart issued a trading update for the financial year to 30 November 2017 on Thursday, reporting that group revenues for the year were £618m, representing year-on-year growth of 12%.
Whitbread warns tough UK trading conditions brewing
Pubs-to-coffee shop group Whitbread said third quarter group sales rose 0. 3% in tough market conditions, adding that the harsher UK environment and inflation would pose challenges in the year ahead.
Inspiration Healthcare gets CE-mark for new cerebral function monitor
Medical device company Inspiration Healthcare Group announced on Thursday that its new-generation cerebral function monitor (CFM) unit, the Unique+, designed for use in neonatal applications has been granted a CE mark.
GKN calls Melrose out over 'misleading' offer statement, Melrose bites back
The tit-for-tat exchanges between Melrose Industries and GKN continued on Thursday, as Melrose responded to comments from its bid target, which said earlier in the day that the company's offer statement was "misleading", after the engineer rejected a hostile, sweetened bid of £7. 4bn a day earlier.
EMIS Group reports service failure on NHS contract, solid progress elsewhere
Connected healthcare software and services company EMIS Group issued a solid trading update for the year to 31 December 2017 on Thursday but also warned of a likes multi-million pound impact an NHS contract failure.
Draper Esprit puts £18m into blockchain firm Ledger
Technology-focussed venture capital firm Draper Esprit announced an £18m investment in Ledger, the Paris headquartered cryptocurrency and blockchain security company, on Thursday.
Paternoster enters agreement with RiverFort Global Capital
Paternoster announced on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement with RiverFort Global Capital - a specialist provider of financing to the natural resources sector - whereby Paternoster will work closely with and co-invest alongside RiverFort in a range of opportunities within the natural resources sector.
ZPG raises £200m through issue of senior notes
ZPG, the owner of uSwitch and Zoopla, has raised £200m through the issue of senior notes due 2023 at 3. 750%.
Kodal licence applications at Bougoni successful
West Africa-focussed mineral exploration and development company Kodal Minerals updated the market on its concessions at the Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali on Thursday.
Assystem acquisition of SQS clears another hurdle
SQS Software Quality updated the market on the recommended cash offer made for it by Assystem Services Deutschland on Thursday.
Imperial Brands sees little impact from US tax changes
Imperial Brands said on Thursday that it does not expect changes to the US tax system to materially impact its adjusted effective tax rate as it already benefits from "substantial" US tax amortisation of goodwill and intangibles, which contributes to a relatively low adjusted effective tax rate.
US tax cuts boost Balfour EPS by 4%, says Numis
The boost from US tax cuts should provide a 4% earnings per share boost at infrastructure construction specialist Balfour Beatty, broker Numis said on Thursday.
Brickmaker Ibstock hails rising UK demand as new factory opens
Brick maker Ibstock reported 4% revenue growth for 2017 as UK demand increased as the year went on, but the US was squeezed by a more competitive new build market.
Chemring full-year revenue up 15%; SFO opens criminal investigation
Chemring posted a rise in full-year revenues on Thursday as the Serious Fraud Office announced that it has launched an investigation into the defence group and one of its subsidiaries.
Experian's B2B business growth offsets consumer decline
Information services giant Experian reported an 8% improvement in revenue for the three months to 31 December in a trading update on Thursday.
Halfords third-quarter revenue rises, hails record Christmas and Black Friday sales
Halfords reported a rise in third-quarter sales on Thursday and solid trading over the Christmas period.