Market Pulse
AB Foods lifts FY outlook as interim profits jump
Primark owner Associated British Foods posted a jump in interim profit and revenue on Tuesday as it lifted its full-year profit outlook.
Jefferies upgrades Reckitt Benckiser to ‘hold’
Jefferies upgraded Reckitt Benckiser to ‘hold’ from ‘underperform’ on Tuesday and lifted the price target to 4,400p from 4,100p.
UK private sector output expands, cost pressures loom
Britain’s private sector saw robust expansion in April, according to fresh data on Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth.
Expanded use of Cosentyx drug sees Novartis raise expectations
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis raised its full-year guidance Tuesday after beating expectations in its first quarter.
Accesso launches ticketing suite in UK market
Accesso Technology Group launched its ‘Accesso ShoWare’ software-as-a-service (SaaS) ticketing suite to the UK market on Tuesday.
GB Group makes 'strong finish' to FY24
Software firm GB Group said on Tuesday that it had made a "strong finish to the year", with adjusted operating profits coming in above expectations.
Eurozone business activity grows at fastest rate for a nearly a year
Business activity in the eurozone grew at the fastest pace for nearly a year in April, according to preliminary data released on Tuesday.
Ferrexpo production levels surge in Q1
Iron ore pellets producer Ferrexpo said on Tuesday that production levels had significantly increased during the three months ended 31 March despite experiencing more conscriptions from its workforce throughout the quarter.
Asia report: Stocks mixed as investors digest regional data
Asia-Pacific markets concluded trading with a mixed bag of outcomes on Tuesday, as some regions extended their gains from the previous day, buoyed by a resurgence in tech stocks on Wall Street.
AB Dynamics reports solid first-half growth
Transport testing, simulation and measurement specialist AB Dynamics reported an 8% increase in first-half revenue on Tuesday, to £52. 3m.
RWS Holdings flags fall in first-half revenue
Language, content and intellectual property technology firm RWS Holdings reported a 2% decline in organic constant currency revenue in a first-half trading update on Tuesday, showing an improving trend compared to the prior year.
Shoppers clamber for deals as grocery inflation slows further
UK households collectively saved £1. 3bn on supermarket deals over the last four weeks, equating to £46 per household, according to fresh industry data released on Tuesday.
Citi remains ‘overweight’ UK banks; HSBC and Barclays ‘top picks’
Citi said on Tuesday that it remains ‘overweight’ UK banks, with HSBC and Barclays its top picks, but Standard Chartered its least preferred.
Videndum revenue, earnings fall in challenging year for entertainment
Content creation hardware and software company Videndum reported a challenging 2023 on Tuesday, impacted by writer and actor strikes in the US and a difficult macroeconomic environment, and destocking.
Molten Ventures describes resilient full-year performance
Technology-focussed venture capital firm Molten Ventures reported a resilient portfolio performance in a full-year trading update on Tuesday, with the gross portfolio value (GPV) expected to reach £1. 377bn.
Copper production rises but diamond output falls at Anglo American
Anglo American reported relatively flat group production in the first quarter on Tuesday as rising copper production was offset by sliding diamond output.
THG hails ‘standout’ Beauty performance as Q1 revenues rise
THG posted a jump in first-quarter revenue on Tuesday as it hailed a "standout" performance in the beauty business.
Tuesday newspaper round-up: P&O Ferries, TikTok, CVC
P&O Ferries seafarers have been told they will benefit from new French legislation that could double their pay, in what appears to be a significant U-turn by the controversial ferry operator. The move comes more than two years after P&O enraged the UK and French governments by sacking 786 workers and then taking advantage of a legal loophole to hire replacements on pay rates of below the minimum wage. – Guardian.
US close: Stocks higher ahead of tech earnings
Wall Street stocks were in the green at the close of trading on Monday as market participants looked ahead to key earnings from a number of major tech firms.
Broker tips: Dr Martens, Diageo, M&S, Next and Sainsbury's
RBC Capital Markets cut its price target on Dr Martens on Monday to 65. 0p from 85. 0p as it reduced estimates following the bootmaker's FY25 guidance.