PZ Cussons starts to come up against tougher comparatives, Entain considers a takeover bid from DraftKings, Flutter rises after reaching a settlement with Kentucky, Saga grows confident as cruises restart, and Halma raises guidance as sales and orders flood-in.
Flutter exceeds expectations as it attracts more gamblers, IHG starts to see demand bounce back, IWG confident hybrid working can drive demand for its workspaces, Bellway sales return to pre-pandemic levels, and Watches of Switzerland shares hit a new all-time high.
Diageo says the global economy is recovering quicker than anticipated, UDG Healthcare shares jump following a takeover offer, Flutter’s IPO plans for FanDuel could be delayed, Coca-Cola HBC thanks sparkling and energy drinks for sales growth, and Compass Group beats expectations.
Top UK Stocks to Watch: NatWest shares fall as profits jump 82%
Joshua Warner April 29, 2021 8:51 AM
NatWest follows its peers by reporting significantly higher profits, Shell continues to slash its debt pile as profits rise on higher oil prices, Flutter reports strong online growth, Unilever launches a new EUR3 billion buyback, and Smith & Nephew returns to growth after a tough 2020. Share:
Top News: NatWest sees ‘reasons for optimism’ over UK economic outlook
NatWest posted better-than-expected results for the first quarter after releasing funds set aside for bad loans and reporting a solid performance from its core brands and loan book.
The bank said operating pretax profit jumped to £946 million in the first quarter of 2021 from £519 million the year before – well ahead of the £722.3 million forecast by analysts. Profi