12 May 2021 | 08:02am
StockMarketWire.com - Motoring services group Redde Northgate upgraded its annual profit guidance following a strong second-half sales performance.
Underlying pre-tax profit for the year through April was now expected to be moderately above the top end of the current range of analyst estimates, and not less than £92 million.
Underlying revenue, excluding vehicle sales, had risen around 51% year-on-year, with total revenue including vehicle sales up 43%.
Redde Northgate said revenue was boosted by the inclusion of Redde since the merger in February last year. The second half of the year has delivered a strong set of results, chief executive Martin Ward said.
12 May 2021 | 08:41am
StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened higher on Wednesday, recouping a portion of Tuesday s heavy losses, as local companies continued to release upbeat earnings updates as lockdowns ease.
At 0830, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 38.72 points, or 0.6%, at 6,986.71.
Sentiment also was buoyed by stronger-than-anticipated economic data, with British gross domestic product falling 1.5% in the first quarter, beating expectations of a 1.6% drop.
Alcoholic drinks maker Diageo gained 3.1% to £32.875, on announcing that it would initiate the second phase of £4.5 billion capital return program, but extend its duration by two years to 30 June 2024.
The welcome move came as Diageo forecast organic operating profit growth to be at least 14% in its current financial year, slightly ahead of organic net sales growth.
Daniel Kaluuya makes SNL debut as game show host convincing family to take the COVID-19 vaccine Jenna Ryu, USA TODAY
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Daniel Kaluuya made his Saturday Night Live debut this weekend, playing a frustrated frontline worker trying to convince his family members to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
As part of a game show called Will You Take It, Kaluuya stars as host Dr. Tevin Jones, who is offering a monetary reward for any contestant willing to take the vaccine. Contestants include various at-risk family members: cousin Tasha (Ego Nwodim), Uncle Derek (Kenan Thompson), cousin Donald (Chris Redd) and Aunt Shauna (Punkie Johnson).
The first question is a simple one, with the correct answer resulting in a reward of $500 in cash: Will any of you just take the COVID vaccine right now?
All contestants hesitate, with Don (Redd), a diabetic who has just been shot in the lung, responding with a resounding no. Man I don t need that vaccine, he insists. I never get sick cause I sleep in my socks.
When Jones offers a higher reward of $5,000 to Uncle Derek, (Thompson), who has suffered two heart attacks in the last decade, he still denies the offer. Nah, ain t worth it, Derek says.