Market Report: UK jobs market in focus as employment under pressure and radar
The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam.
FTSE 100 headed lower as the US dollar continued its recent decline while new figures showed the UK jobs market is not rebounding. London’s blue-chip index dropped 30 to 6,970.
Britain’s jobless rate fell only slightly to 4.9% in the three months to February, though lockdown rules were in place for most of the period. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) said the jobs market was subdued but broadly stable .
Associated-British-Foods-PLC/]LON:ABF) said Primark notched up record sales in the first week after reopening in England and Wales. Over half of the stores of the fast-fashion retailer, which doesn’t have an e-commerce platform, broke their own sales records.
25 February 2021 | 07:40am
StockMarketWire.com - Associated British Foods said it expected to reopen 83% of Primark stores by 26 April, and forecast better-than-expected first-half performance for its grocery, sugar, agriculture and ingredients businesses. [W]e have likely reopening dates for 233 stores in addition to the 77 stores already open, so that 83% of our retail selling space should be trading by 26 April, the company said.
Primark s adjusted operating profit in the first half,, was expected to be marginally above break-even, compared with a profit of £441m for the same period in the last financial year, following an estimated £1.1 billion loss owning to shuttered stores as a result of lockdowns in the UK and Europe.
25 February 2021 | 08:38am
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 climbed almost 20 points to 6,678.32 this morning, continuing its resurgence from yesterday on the back of stronger oil prices.
The Government s roadmap out of lockdown, announced at the start of the week, has continued to provide a boost to the outlook for many businesses.
Associated British Foods today said it expected to reopen 83% of Primark stores by 26 April, and forecast better-than-expected first-half performance for its grocery, sugar, agriculture and ingredients businesses. Its share price continued on its upward trajectory, reaching £24.38 this morning.
Spectris Shares price was down 1.39% at £30.45 in spite of announcing a 5% increase in its full year dividend for 2020, alongside a £200 million share buyback programme.