18 February 2021 | 08:22am
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 opened almost 38 points down at 6,710.90 this morning, continuing its slump from yesterday on the back of higher-than-expected inflation figures.
Medical technology company Smith & Nephew fell 6.1% to £14.72 as it reported a 42% fall in trading profits as consequences of the pandemic lead to a decreased revenue across the group as well as lower gross margins.
Hays rose 1.2% to 159.9p despite reporting a sharp fall in first-half profit. The recruitment company vowed to resume its dividend payments later this year in August, citing a stronger recovery in the second quarter.
Barclays fell 1.5% to 152.1p as profit was hit by £4.8 billion in bad loan provisions.
16 February 2021 | 08:50am
StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened higher on Tuesday as investors grow increasingly confident that US lawmakers will push through a large stimulus package, while big miners released some positive dividend news.
At 0836, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 16.42 points, or 0.3%, at 6,772.53.
BHP eased back 0.2% to $22.2448 even as it reported a 13% rise in first-half pre-tax profit to $8.83 billion, as revenue was boosted by higher iron ore and copper prices.
The world s biggest mining company hiked its interim dividend 55% to 101p per share. Its bottom line profit fell, though, on a higher tax expense.
Miner and commodities trader Glencore rose 2.1% to 288.35p after it said it would resume dividends in 2021 with a payout of 12c per share.