FTSE 100 Closes Down Slightly Lower; AB Foods Shines on Goldman Sachs Upgrade
December 02 2022 - 11:28AM
Dow Jones News
The FTSE 100 index closed Friday slightly down 0.03% to 7556
amid mixed trading in global markets after an unexpectedly robust
U.S. labor market data for November and hopes of the ease of
pandemic-related restrictions in China. Primark owner Associated
British Foods rose 5% and was the index's top performer after being
upgraded by Goldman Sachs. "Goldman Sachs cited a weaker U.S.
dollar as being a benefit to ABF and H&M, with Morgan Stanley
citing a challenging retail environment on the rest of the sector
due to rising costs and weaker disposable incomes," CMC Markets
chief analyst Michael Hewson said in a note. Among the other top
performers, Rolls-Royce bounced 3.8% after slipping 4.4% a day
before. Intermediate Capital led the falls, down 2%.
Companies News:
Wizz Air Passenger Numbers Rose Significantly on Year in
November
Wizz Air Holdings PLC said Friday that it carried significantly
more passengers in November on year.
---
Premier Miton FY 2022 Pretax Profit Fell as Assets Under
Management Declined
Premier Miton Group PLC on Friday reported a fall in its
full-year pretax profit as investors' reluctance to commit new
investments in an uncertain market hit its assets under management,
but said it has seen encouraging signs of recovery since the end of
the period.
---
Light Science Sees FY 2022 Revenue, Pretax Loss Missing Market
Views
Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC said Friday that it
expects to miss market forecasts for fiscal 2022 revenue and for
pretax loss to be wider than consensus expectations, as clients
face macroeconomic pressure.
---
MetalNRG Gets Shareholder Request to Call Meeting to Remove
Chairman, CEO
MetalNRG PLC said Friday it has received a request from
shareholder Edward Spencer to call a general meeting seeking the
removal of Chairman Christopher Latilla-Campbell and Chief
Executive Rolf Gerritsen.
---
Mind Gym 1H Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose on Favorable Currency
Effects
Mind Gym PLC said Friday that pretax profit and revenue rose in
the first half of fiscal 2023, boosted by favorable
foreign-exchange rates.
---
Goldplat Sells Remaining Shareholding in Caracal Gold
Goldplat PLC said Friday that it has sold its remaining shares
in Caracal Gold PLC for an undisclosed sum.
---
ScS Group CFO Chris Muir to Step Down
ScS Group PLC said on Friday that Chris Muir will be stepping
down as chief financial officer but will remain with the company to
work his 12-month notice.
---
ASOS Interim CFO Katy Mecklenburgh to Step Down, Become Softcat
CFO
ASOS PLC on Friday said its interim Chief Financial Officer Katy
Mecklenburgh will step down from the role to become Softcat PLC's
CFO after working her six-month notice.
---
HeiQ Acquires Chem-Tex Laboratories for $2.5 Mln in U.S.
Expansion
HeiQ PLC on Friday said it acquired North Carolina-based
specialty chemicals company Chem-Tex Laboratories for $2.5 million
as it seeks to expand in the U.S.
Market Talk:
ASOS Interim CFO's Premature Exit Seen as Negative
1130 GMT - ASOS's interim CFO Katy Mecklenburgh departure just
over a month after taking the position shows that the company is
having a "year from hell," AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould
says in a note, with shares are down 73% in the year to date. The
declaration adds further pressure on the fast-fashion online
retailer to find a permanent replacement and increases the somewhat
chaotic feel that is surrounding the business, he adds.
(michael.susin@wsj.com)
Cineworld Shares Rise on Report About Possible Vue Takeover
1119 GMT - Cineworld shares rose in early trading Friday after a
report in the Times of London suggested peer Vue International was
eyeing it for acquisition ahead of a possible initial public
offering. The FTSE 250 cinema chain could be targeted by Vue, after
founder Tim Richards confirmed the company was ready to seize upon
any opportunities that present themselves, the Times reports. Vue
is the third largest cinema chain in the U.K. and Ireland behind
Odeon and Cineworld, with 91 venues in the U.K. and Ireland.
Cineworld is currently in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings that
have given it access to around $785 million from a $1.94 billion
line of credit to support operations. Shares are up 9.7% at 5.05
pence, having risen to 6.2 pence earlier in the session.
(joseph.hoppe@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 02, 2022 12:13 ET (17:13 GMT)
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