[ad_1] Activity levels at both US factories and among services sector firms picked up substantially in August, according to the results of two closely-followed surveys. IHS Markit‘s manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers’ Index jumped from July’s reading of 50.9 to 53.6 for August (consensus: 51.5). Services activity also accelerated, with the PMI for that sector increasing…
[ad_1] London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.1% at 17,508.76 in afternoon trade on Friday. HGCapital Trust was a high riser after saying it will invest around £17.1m in Norwegian enterprise software group Visma. On the downside, oilfield services company Petrofac was in the red after a downgrade to ‘market perform’ from ‘outperform’ at Bernstein. Silver…
[ad_1] Valve manufacturer Rotork was on the back foot as its stock went ex-dividend. Frasers Group, formerly Sports Direct, gained after saying it plans to spend £100m on its digital elevation strategy and forecasting a 10-30% improvement in underlying core earnings next year as 2020 profits fell by a fifth due to the Covid-19 pandemic….
[ad_1] Wildwood restaurant chain owner Tasty said on Tuesday it would open around 86% of its estate this month having cut its workforce by more than 30%, as it considered an equity raising and warned of a “challenging” market. The firm said it remained “extremely cautious” regarding trading in September and was continuing to explore…
[ad_1] William Hill surged after Jefferies upped its price target on the buy-rated stock. “William Hill boasts the leading US sports betting market share, yet we see zero value priced in. US competitive positioning continues to strengthen with: 1) An enlarged retail footprint due to the Caesar’s deal; and, 2) Launch with CBS Sports that…
[ad_1] AO World revealed on Tuesday that chief financial officer Mark Higgins had disposed of 146,411 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed retailer. Higgins, who exercised nil cost options over a total of 309,537 ordinary shares on Monday, sold the shares at an average price of 195.0p each, for a total value of £285,501.46 in…
[ad_1] London stocks had turned negative by the close on Tuesday, amid growing tensions between the US and China, offset by a strong performance from housebuilders. The FTSE 100 ended the session down 0.83% at 6,076.62, and the FTSE 250 was 0.84% weaker at 17,623.02. Sterling was trading strongly in the afternoon, last gaining 0.96%…
[ad_1] Engineering company Renishaw was the worst performer as it posted a drop in full-year profit as revenue fell amid “very challenging economic conditions”. National Express was also on the back foot after saying it swung to a half-year loss as the coronavirus lockdown led to an 80% slump in passenger traffic. 4imprint lost ground…
[ad_1] London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.5% at 18,077.60 in afternoon trade on Wednesday. Online electrical goods retailer AO World surged to the top of the index, with traders pointing to positive read-across from Asos, which said annual sales and profit were set to be “significantly ahead” of market expectations. Although one sells electricals and…
[ad_1] London’s FTSE 250 was up 1.4% at 17,964.71 in afternoon trade on Tuesday. Cineworld surged, with traders pointing to speculation the company may be taken private by its founder. The shares had already rallied on Monday on takeover speculation after a US judge granted the government’s request to end the Paramount Decrees, which is…