News And Announcements
Speedy Hire profit jumps nearly 60%, hikes dividend
Tools rental firm Speedy Hire posted a near-60% jump in full-year profit on Wednesday as it hiked its dividend and said it has kicked off the current year on a positive note.
Mitchells & Butlers earnings narrow as it spends on improvements and new sites
Mitchells & Butlers posted its half-year results for the 28 weeks to 14 April on Wednesday morning, reporting adjusted like-for-like sales growth of 1. 6%, and growth adjusted for the impact of snowy weather earlier in the year of 2. 5%.
Crest Nicholson craters as flat house prices, rising costs hit margins
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson reported strong sales growth for the first half of the year but profit margins are being squeezed by the softer housing market, sending its shares to 16-month lows.
SSP profit up 40% in first half as air passenger numbers grow
Food and beverage outlets operator SSP posted a jump in first-half profit and revenue on Wednesday as it reaped the benefits of growing air passenger numbers, new contract openings across the world and its ongoing programme of operational improvements.
Brewin Dolphin profit rises as discretionary funds, net inflows grow
Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin posted a 20% jump in interim pre-tax profit on Wednesday as discretionary funds and net inflows grew.
Coats threads together solid start to 2018
Thread maker Coats said group sales in the quarter to April 30 for the period grew 5% year-on-year on a constant currency basis, driven by a strong performance in its industrial business, which rose 6%.
Diageo launches $2bn bond transaction overnight
Diageo has launched and priced an SEC-registered $2bn bond transaction, it announced on Wednesday morning.
Playtech takes steps to protect Asia gaming arm
Playtech said business-to-business gaming revenues had mostly improved in recent months though it was having to take steps to protect its position in Asia as revenues were hit by strong competition.
Black Panther, Avengers help boost Cineworld revenues
The box office blockbuster movies "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War" helped boost revenue at Cineworld by 6. 7% in the five months to May 13.
Micro Focus flags better-than-expected revenues in first half
Software group Micro Focus International updated the market on its trading performance for the six months ended 30 April on Wednesday, saying it expected to report revenues better than the management guidance of -9% to -12% on a constant currency basis, compared to the proforma six months ended 30 April 2017.
Paddy Power confirms talks with FanDuel over US merger
Paddy Power Betfair confirmed it is in talks over a potential merger of its US business and US-based FanDuel to target the US sports betting market.
Mondi sees Q1 operating profits up 15% yr-on-yr
Paper products maker Mondi said it expected first quarter underlying operating profit to be 15% higher year on year at €295m and 6% up on the fourth quarter of 2017.