26 April 2021 | 08:30am
StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened lower on Monday as a strengthening pound put pressure on exporters, while rampant Covid-19 outbreaks in countries such as India and Brazil continued to temper global recovery hopes.
Sentiment, however, was at least being partly bolstered by some earnings upgrades from local mid- and small-cap companies.
At 0817, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 19.35 points, or 0.3%, at 6,919.21.
Educational publishing and services group Pearson gained 2.1% to 817.4p as its first-quarter sales grew 5% year-on-year, underpinned by online learning.
Pearson stuck to its previous annual guidance.
Publishing and events group Informa rose 1.4% to 557.8p following news that it had joined up with private equity firm Inflexion to acquire financial intelligence group Novantas.
26 April 2021 | 07:06am
StockMarketWire.com - Educational publishing and services group Pearson said its first-quarter sales had grown 5% year-on-year, underpinned by a strength in its online learning business.
The growth in sales for the three months through March included a 25% jump in online learning and a 1% rise in US courseware, offset by 2% in each of global assessment and international.
Pearson said it still expected its performance to be in line with a 2021 outlook outlined on 8 March. It s been a good start to the year for Pearson, delivering 5% sales growth in the quarter, chief executive Andy Bird said. This is despite a longer period of disruption from Covid-19 in the quarter compared to last year.
26 April 2021 | 16:37pm
StockMarketWire.com - After struggling for direction for much of the day the FTSE 100 strengthened this afternoon, bolstered by a decent open on Wall Street.
By the close the index was up 0.35% at 6,963.12 with the S&P 500 in the US gaining 0.3% to 4,192.63 by 4.30pm UK time.
Educational publishing and services group Pearson gained 3% to 824.8p as its first-quarter sales grew 5% year-on-year, underpinned by online learning.
Pearson stuck to its previous annual guidance.
Publishing and events group Informa rose 3.7% to 570.6p following news that it had joined up with private equity firm Inflexion to acquire financial intelligence group Novantas.