FTSE 100 Trades Flat After Gains in Asia, US
0757 GMT - The FTSE 100 trades flat at 7186 points following gains in Asia and the U.S. overnight. Energy stocks rally as Brent crude rises while mining stocks drop on lower metal prices. "While the general tone is so far positive, this has fed across to the FTSE, with the FTSE 100 holding broadly steady following yesterday's modest gains," Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates writes. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation Thursday has largely been shrugged off by markets, she says. June's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report at 1230 GMT is expected to show further strong hiring, which is positive, but also paves the way for the Federal Reserve to lift interest rates more aggressively, she says. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Companies News:
JD Sports Fashion Appoints Andrew Higginson as Chairman
JD Sports Fashion PLC said Friday that it has appointed Andrew Higginson as its chairman.
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Vistry's 1H Beat Management Views; Sees 2022 at Top-End of Market Views
Vistry Group PLC said Friday that its first-half performance beat its initial expectations at the start of the year, and it expects to meet the top-end of market forecasts for 2022.
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EMIS Group Sees 1H Performance Ahead of Its Expectations
EMIS Group PLC said on Friday that performance for the half year continued to be in line with the board's expectations as it benefited from robust recurring revenue.
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Live Company to Buy Outstanding 80% Share of Start Art; to Raise GBP0.6 Mln
Live Company Group PLC said Friday that it is buying the remaining 80.06% interest in Start Art Global Ltd. for 4 million pounds ($4.8 million), which will be part-funded from a share placing.
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Unite 2Q Portfolio Valuations Rose; Reports Strong Sales Performance
Unite Group PLC said Friday that its portfolio valuations rose on a like-for-like basis in the second quarter, and that it has experienced a strong sales performance to date for the 2022-2023 academic year.
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Amigo Swung to Pretax Profit in FY 2022 After Court Ruling; Revenue Fell
Amigo Holdings PLC reported on Friday a swing to pretax profit for fiscal 2022 after a court ruled in favor of its scheme of arrangement to compensate customers, but noted a fall in revenue.
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Litigation Capital Management Sees Growth for FY 2022's Earnings
Litigation Capital Management Ltd. said Friday that it expects to report a rise in revenue and adjusted operating profit for its fiscal 2022 performance despite the delay in justice systems.
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HICL Infrastructure to Raise Funds via Equity Issue
HICL Infrastructure Co. said Friday that it plans to raise money via an equity issue which will be used towards its investment pipeline and restore its 400 million-pound ($481 million) revolving credit facility.
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Science in Sport 1H Revenue Rose But Missed Management Views
Science in Sport PLC said Friday that its first half revenue rose by around 12% on year, lower than it expected.
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Tekmar Shares Rise on Engineering Contract for Japanese Wind Farm
Tekmar Group PLC shares rose Friday after it said that it has been awarded a significant new contract to provide an integrated engineering solution for an offshore wind project in Japan, for an undisclosed sum.
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MGC Pharmaceuticals Gets Approval for South Africa Covid-19 Treatment Study
MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said Friday that it has received study approvals and an import permit from the South African health regulator for its CimetrA coronavirus treatment.
Market Talk:
Vistry's 1H Results Will Comfort Nervy Investors
0833 GMT - Vistry's first-half margins will provide investors plenty of comfort, following concerns elsewhere in the house building sector surrounding supply-chain problems, Davy Research says. The house builder's guidance implies a small uplift in estimates is possible, and the significant order book should provide a lot of confidence in that guidance, Davy analyst Colin Sheridan says in a research note. Strength in the underlying housing market also leads Vistry to expect margins in both its house building and partnerships businesses ahead of its fiscal 2022 targets, the Irish research firm says. Davy retains its outperform rating on the stock. Shares are up 1.3% at 824.0 pence. (joseph.hoppe@wsj.com)
JD Sports' New Chairman Seen as Good Choice for Progress
0814 GMT - JD Sports Fashion's appointment of Andrew Higginson as its new chairman shows the company's positive evolution while waiting for the confirmation of a new CEO, expected over the summer, Shore Capital analyst Eleonora Dani says in a research note. The U.K. clothing retailer's new chairman is a respected and proven retailer and top executive with more than 28 years of experience on boards, including at Tesco, Morrison Supermarkets and Flutter, the U.K. brokerage adds. "JD's multibrand and multichannel proposition continue to be the growth engine for the company, together with international prospects," Shore says. Shore has a buy recommendation on the stock and a target price of 122 pence a share. Shares are up 0.4% at 122.70 pence. (sabela.ojea@wsj.com; @sabelaojeaguix)
Contact: London NewsPlus; paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-08-22 0451ET
