By Samuel Indyk
Investing.com – At 07:39BST, FTSE 100 futures are trading lower by 0.4% at 7,007.
In FX markets, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3826, EUR/GBP is trading at 0.8538. The US Dollar Index is flat.
Today’s calendar highlights include US retail sales, jobless claims, and Philly Fed Manufacturing index.
Stocks
Ashtead (LON:AHT) - Q1 revenue up 21% to $1.852 billion, operating profit up 53% to $477 million. Board now expects full-year results ahead of its earlier expectations.
Wickes Group (LON:WIX) - H1 revenue growth up 33.1% on like-for-like basis. Adjusted profit before tax of £46.5 million, above guidance of £45.0 million. Declares interim dividend of 2.1 pence per share. Now expect adjusted profit before tax for the full year to come in towards the upper end of analyst expectations.
Games Workshop (LON:GAW) - Trading for three months to 29th August in line with expectations. Pressure on freight costs and currency exchange rates. Declares dividend of 25 pence per share.
IG Group (LON:IGG) - Q1 net trading revenue up 6% to £221.7 million, consistent with the Group’s previous guidance. Active clients were up 12% at 225,900. Group remains confident of achieving its medium-term targets.
CMC Markets (LON:CMCX) - ANZ share investing client base to transition to CMC Markets for a sum of AUD 25 million.
THG (LON:THG) - H1 group revenue up 44.7% to £958.8 million. Adjusted group EBITDA up 38.6% to £81.2 million. THG Beauty is to be separated and listed on a public share-trading exchange in 2022.
BT (LON:BT) - DAZN is “possibly” interested in buying BT Sport, according to DAZN chairman Kevin Mayer.
Kier Group (LON:KIE) - FY revenue declined to £3.3 billion from £3.5 billion. Adjusted operating profit increased to £100 million from £41 million. Current trading in line with expectations and outlook for the current year remains unchanged.
Vectura (LON:VEC) - The offer from Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) has become unconditional in all respects with over 74% of company shares secured.
Ryanair (LON:RYA) - Expect to deliver more rapid traffic growth over the next 5 years, and have raised 5 year growth forecast from 33% to 50%.
C&C Group (LON:GCC) - H1 group net revenue is expected to be €657 million. Operating profit expected to be €16 million.
Hilton Food Group (LON:HFG) - Half-year revenue up 32.1% to £1.711 billion. Adjusted operating profit up 21.6% to £39.0 million. Interim dividend increased from 7.0p to 8.2p.
Superdry (LON:SDRY) - FY revenue down 21.1% to £556.1 million. Expects a recovery in total revenue in new financial year, however, Superdry does not expect a change to the adjusted PBT market expectations for FY22.
ASOS (LON:ASOS) - Announces ESG goals. To be carbon neutral in its direct operations by 2025 and achieve Net Zero across its value chain by 2030. To publish a detailed human rights strategy and implementation reports annually from 2023.
Oxford Nanopore - Confirms to proceed with Initial Public Offering on London Stock Exchange. Admission expected to occur in October 2021. Expected to raise gross proceeds of approximately £300 million.
Galliford Try (LON:GFRD) - FY profit before tax above previous guidance at £11.4 million. Declares final dividend payment of 3.5p, together with an interim dividend of 1.2p giving a total dividend of 4.7p.
Britvic (LON:BVIC) - Downgraded to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn).
Unilever (LON:ULVR) - Downgraded to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank.
Sectors
Travel & Leisure - UK set to announce vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to take a COVID test before entering England as the traffic light system looks set to be scrapped. (FT)