FTSE 100 Falls as Traders Eye US Jobs Data

0928 GMT - The FTSE 100 falls 0.1% to 7457 points as traders await the key U.S. nonfarm payrolls report at 1330 GMT. "Investors remain apprehensive following the Federal Reserve's move to a more hawkish stance, with the jobs report later providing further colour to the economic backdrop," Interactive Investor analyst Richard Hunter says, noting that the Fed's December meeting minutes signalled it could withdraw support at a faster pace. A strong payrolls number could "play into the Fed's hands" that the economy is close to reaching maximum employment, allowing attention to turn to the question of persistently high inflation and paving the way for earlier than expected interest rate rises, he says.(renae.dyer@wsj.com) 


 
Companies News:

Shell to Return $5.5 Bln From Permian Sale Via Buybacks

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Friday that it will distribute the remaining $5.5 billion of proceeds from the sale of its Permian Basin assets in the U.S. through share buybacks.

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C&C Group 3Q Ahead of Expectations; 4Q Hurt by Covid-19 Restrictions

C&C Group PLC said Friday that its third quarter was modestly ahead of expectations but that its fourth quarter has been hurt by renewed Covid-19 restrictions.

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Air Partner Raises FY 2022 Profit Guidance Again

Air Partner PLC on Friday raised its profit expectations for the second time in less than a month following continued strong customer demand throughout December.

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Churchill China Sees 2021 Pretax Profit in Line With Market Expectations

Churchill China PLC said Friday that it expects to meet market expectations for pretax profit for 2021.

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Aston Martin Backs Medium-Term Guidance, 2021 Sales Rose

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC on Friday backed the company's medium-term earnings objectives, and said sales for 2021 grew as expected.

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Essentra Sees 2021 Profits in Line With Views After Strong 4Q

Essentra PLC said Friday that it expects to report results for 2021 in line with analysts' forecasts.

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Clarkson PLC Raises 2021 Guidance Again, After Strong December Performance

Clarkson PLC on Friday raised its profit guidance for the second time in a month after a stronger-than-expected trading performance during December.

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Judges Scientific Sees 2021 Earnings Ahead of Market Consensus

Judges Scientific PLC said Friday that it expects to report 2021 adjusted earnings per share ahead of market expectations.

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System1 to Hold Buyback Program of Up to GBP750,000

System1 Group PLC said Friday that it will undertake a share buyback program of up to 750,000 pounds ($1 million) to improve shareholder returns and satisfy obligations relating to employee share programs.

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AdvancedAdvT Confirms Interest in M&C Saatchi Takeover

AdvancedAdvT Ltd. confirmed Friday that it is interested in a share exchange merger with U.K. advertising company M&C Saatchi PLC, and that any deal would constitute a reverse takeover under listing rules.

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Lookers PLC Expects 2021 Pretax Profit Above Market Consensus, Aims to Restore Dividend

Lookers PLC said Friday that it expects its adjusted pretax profit for 2021 to beat market consensus of 82 million pounds ($111 million), and that it is looking to restore dividends after benefiting from a strong fourth quarter. 


 
Market Talk:

Shell 4Q Update Is Below Market Expectations, ING Says

0857 GMT - Shell's update for the fourth quarter of 2021 is below market expectations, ING says, adding that the company won't reach its $6.3 billion adjusted earnings forecast for the quarter. This reflects the fact that Chemicals is expected to deliver break-even earnings, weaker results in Oil Products, and Integrated Gas production halts in Australia. However, it is difficult to know to what extent shares will move on these numbers, given that the company confirmed another $5.5 billion share buyback and Brent oil prices have risen above $80, ING says. "Our Hold with a TP of EUR20.50 stands as we believe all good news of RDS is discounted in the current share price," the Dutch bank says. (jaime.llinares@wsj.com)

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Shell 4Q Update Is Neutral to Market Expectations

0817 GMT - Shell's trading update for the fourth quarter is neutral to consensus expectations and slightly worse than prior guidance, with multiple figures now at the low end of what was previously guided, Biraj Borkhataria of RBC Capital Markets says. The analysts highlights that LNG volumes are lower than expected, as operational issues hurt production, and that Shell has confirmed it will distribute the remaining $5.5 billion of proceeds from the Permian sale via buybacks at pace. Shares in the oil-and-gas major slip 0.3%. (jaime.llinares@wsj.com)

Contact: London NewsPlus, paul.larkins@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-07-22 0449ET