19 May 2021 | 16:36pm
StockMarketWire.com - Global inflation worries, with UK consumer prices rising faster than expected in April, kept markets on the back foot on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 closing down 1.2% to 6,950.20.
By 4.30pm UK time the US S&P 500 index was 1% lower at 4,084.86.
Premier Foods dipped 0.2% to 102.2p, having declared a dividend for the first time in 13 years after its annual profit more than doubled.
The maker of Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy enjoyed high demand for groceries during lockdowns that helped it reduce a large debt pile. It recommended a final dividend of 1p per share.
Specialist media group Future rallied 11.5% to £26.70 as it forecast full-year results materially ahead of market expectations, after its first-half profit more than doubled.
13 May 2021 | 07:45am
StockMarketWire.com - Specialty chemicals company Elementis said it expected performance toward the top end of market expectations after reporting strong first-quarter performance ahead of its expectations.
Further steady demand improvement from H2 2020 levels coupled with ongoing self help actions, will drive improved financial performance, towards the top end of consensus expectations, the company said.
Consensus expectations for adjusted operating profit to be in the range of $92 million to $103 million with an average of $97 million.
For the three months ended 31 March 2021, revenue increased approximately 6% on the prior year period, following the successful execution of self help actions augmented by improved underlying demand, customer restocking and currency tailwinds, the company said.
13 May 2021 | 08:39am
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 was under pressure in early trade Thursday, weighed down by a rout in US markets a day earlier, amid growing inflation worries.
The FTSE 100 was down 1.50% to 6,899.85 at 08:41.
Telecoms giant BT s share price fell 3.3% to 163.40p as it reported a fall in annual profit. Revenue was hurt by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its consumer and enterprise businesses, the company said.
For the year through March 2021, pre-tax profit fell 23% to £1,804 million year-on-year as revenue slipped 7% to £21,331 million.
High-end fashion retailer Burberry resumed its full-year dividend after reporting a jump in profit as margins improved amid an accelerated recovery and a strong final quarter of the year.