News And Announcements
Wednesday preview: UK wages, US Fed minutes and Lloyds strategy in focus
Wednesday is a big and busy day for macro news, with crucial UK labour market data, initial Eurozone purchasing managers' surveys and a closely watched set of FOMC minutes, plus corporate results from Lloyds Banking Group, Glencore and Barratt Developments.
CityFibre ends year in line with market expectations
Fibre-optic infrastructure designer, builder, operator, and owner CityFibre updated the market on its trading for the year ended 31 December on Tuesday, confirming results would be in line with current market expectations.
African Battery Metals knuckles down at Kisinka
Exploration company African Battery Metals updated the market on its exploration programme at its recently-acquired cobalt-copper interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, confirming that field exploration and mapping at Kisinka had now begun.
Hunters outperforms market as it expands branch network
Franchised sales and lettings agency business Hunters updated the market on its trading on Tuesday, ahead of its results for the year ended 31 December.
Lok'nStore extends bank facility, adds Leicester to pipeline
Self-storage company Lok'nStore announced an increase in its banking facility to £50m on Tuesday, following the execution of a £10m accordion.
Asda growth slows in fourth quarter, adding to Walmart disappointments
Asda, Britain's third-largest supermarket chain, grew sales in the fourth quarter but it was far from enough to help parent Wamart from reporting a disappointing profits over the key festive period.
HSBC annual profit disappoints as CEO Gulliver says goodbye
HSBC’s annual profit fell short of expectations as Stuart Gulliver reported his final set of results as leader of the global bank.
Rite Aid surges on Albertsons merger plan
Shares in drugstore chain Rite Aid surged in pre-market trade on Tuesday as it agreed for grocery chain Albertsons to buy the remainder of the company that isn't being sold to Walgreens Boots Alliance.
The PRS REIT raises £250m to help fund massive housing pipeline
Closed-ended real estate investment trust, the PRS REIT, announced on Tuesday that it has successfully raised gross proceeds of £250m through a recent placing.
Melrose presses GKN offer as Corbyn ramps up political pressure
Melrose Industries pressed the case for its £7. 4bn bid for GKN as Jeremy Corbyn increased the political pressure over the turnaround company's proposed hostile takeover.
Synectics posts top results in pearl anniversary year
Surveillance technology design, integration, control and management company Synectics reported its audited final results for the year ended 30 November on Tuesday, with revenue ahead slightly at £70. 1million, compared to £70. 9m in 2016.
Lighthouse Group sees good growth in revenue and earnings
National financial adviser Lighthouse Group announced its final audited results for the year ended 31 December on Tuesday, with revenues up 13% to £54m.
Frontera Resources makes significant encounters at Taribani Complex
Europe-focussed independent oil and gas exploration and production company Frontera Resources Corporation announced on Tuesday that T-45 - the first well of current three-well drilling program at its Taribani Complex of Block 12 in Georgia - has now been drilled to a target depth of 2700m in the Eldari Formation.
ECR Minerals reports good progress on Victoria gold exploration
ECR Minerals update the market on its gold exploration in central Victoria, Australia on Tuesday, which is being carried out by its wholly owned Australian subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia.
Bonduelle buys Del Monte rights in Canada from Conagra
Bonduelle announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with the New York-listed Conagra Brands, to acquire its Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business in Canada.
TRIG portfolio tops £1bn as NAV rises
Renewable energy investor Renewables Infrastructure Group saw profits beat expectations in its most recent fiscal year, as pre-tax profits rose by a third due to significant new investments made throughout 2017.
Grainger hires Mike Keaveney as land and development director
Grainger has appointed Mike Keaveney as the residential landlord’s director of land and development.
Intercontinental Hotels profit, RevPAR rise but no additional capital to be paid out
InterContinental Hotels reported a jump in full-year profit on Tuesday but said it will not be paying out any additional capital this year as it looks to reinvest savings in growth.
Fox increases news commitments to seal Sky deal
21st Century Fox has strengthened its commitments to investment in Sky's UK news channel in a bid to secure a takeover of the European cable network.
Dunelm dives as profits decline and CFO departs
Dunelm's profits dipped in the first half of the year and homeware retailer said chief financial officer Keith Down will leave the company in June.