The FTSE 100 index ended 0.17% higher on Tuesday, having gained 13.39 points by market close to finish at 7,930.96 points after a relatively calm trading session. "The prospect of an impending period of monetary easing in Europe has sparked the likes of the DAX and FTSE 100 into life, with European indices enjoying a period of strength that has gradually awoken traders to the relatively affordable valuations offered in the region," Scope Market analyst Joshua Mahony writes in a market comment.

COMPANIES NEWS:

Smiths Group Names New CEO, Launches Buyback Alongside Earnings

Smiths Group appointed company veteran Roland Carter as its new chief executive officer and launched a new share buyback program alongside its first-half earnings.

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John Wood Net Loss Narrows on Higher Revenue; Upgrades Guidance

John Wood Group said its 2023 net loss narrowed as revenue rose and upgraded its guidance after launching a program focused on efficiency and margin expansion.

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Ocado Retail Backs Guidance After Robust Start to Year

Ocado Retail, the joint venture between Ocado and Marks & Spencer Group, backed its fiscal 2024 guidance after first-quarter sales rose, supported by improved volumes.

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Bellway Pretax Profit Falls on Higher Costs

Bellway said pretax profit fell for the first half after booking higher costs, and that the board continued to anticipate a fall in underlying operating margin for the year.

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Revolution Bars Group Hangs Up 'for Sale' Sign

Revolution Bars Group said that it is reviewing options to boost its prospects which could include a sale of all or part of the business.

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Fevertree Drinks Pretax Profit Falls on Higher Costs; Backs Guidance

Fevertree Drinks said pretax profit fell after booking higher costs, and backed its guidance for the new year.

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ASOS Backs Guidance as Turnaround Plans Progresses

ASOS backed its fiscal 2024 guidance, supported by further progress in its turnaround plans despite reporting a fall in first-half sales.

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Pets at Home Sees Profit Improvement in Line With Market Views

Pets at Home Group said it expects profit for fiscal 2025 to improve in line with market expectations, and anticipated that profit for fiscal 2024 will be in line with guidance.

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Eurowag Swung to Pretax Loss on Finance Costs Despite Revenue Growth

W.A.G. Payment Solutions reported a swing to pretax loss due to finance costs and a noncash goodwill impairment despite revenue growth.

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Petershill Partners Mulls $100 Mln Tender Offer, Swings to Pretax Profit

Petershill Partners reported a swing to pretax profit for last year after booking a profit on the value of its investments and said that it is considering a tender offer to buy up to $100 million of its shares.

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A.G. Barr Profit Rises on Robust Volume, Value Growth; Raises Dividend

A.G. Barr said both profit and revenue increased in fiscal 2024, supported by strong brand momentum, and it raised its dividend payout.

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CAB Payments Holdings Profit Falls on One-Off Costs

CAB Payments Holdings said profit for 2023 fell after it booked one-off costs, but gross income sharply rose across all its client segments.

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John Wood to Simplify Business to Save Costs, Boost Margins -- Update

John Wood Group said that it plans to simplify its business to cut costs and grow margins, and added that it raised its guidance for the year ahead.

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888 Holdings Pretax Loss Widens on Higher Financing Costs

888 Holdings reported a widened pretax loss for 2023 and backed its guidance for the year ahead.

MARKET TALK:

U.K. June 2028 Gilt Auction Likely to Attract Strong Demand

0946 GMT - The U.K. Debt Management Office sale of GBP3 billion in a 4.5% June 2028 gilt at 1000 GMT is likely to attract strong demand given the small size of the supply and the fact that it's the bond's final re-opening, RBC Capital Markets analysts say in a note. "The last auction of the 4.5% June 2028 gilt on February 21 saw its strongest results to date and we anticipate another strong showing [on Tuesday]," they say. The 5-year gilt sector also looks attractive, a factor likely to support demand for the gilt, RBC says. (miriam.mukuru@wsj.com)

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Flutter Entertainment's Future Profitability Depends on U.S. Division

0851 GMT - Flutter Entertainment's U.S. division remains the engine of growth for the gambling and betting group, Interactive Investor's head of markets Richard Hunter writes in a research note. Flutter's move to a New York listing in January has already attracted investor interest in the U.S., giving the group access to deeper pools of liquidity, Hunter says. This will expose the group to a much broader audience, estimated to grow to more than $40 billion by 2030, the analyst says. Looking ahead, the U.S. division will attract more players which will lead to increased revenues and profitability in the future, he says. Shares are up 2.4% at 17,705.00 pence. (najat.kantouar@wsj.com)

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Ocado Seen With Some Upside to Consensus, if It Can Sustain Growth

0845 GMT - Ocado Retail delivered a solid set of results, with revenues continuing to grow at double-digits, Jefferies analyst Giles Thorne says in a note. Ocado and Marks & Spencer Group's joint venture's first-quarter performance has also shown an acceleration in both active customers and average orders per week, and further progress through its Perfect Execution Programme, the analyst adds. "Guidance remains unchanged from its FY 2023 results on Feb. 29, though the run-rate growth suggests some upwards pressure to consensus revenue should Ocado be able to sustain it," Thorne adds. Jefferies has a hold rating on the stock. Shares are up 2.9% but down 40% since the start of the year. (michael.susin@wsj.com)

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Wood Group's Results Bring Focus Back to Cash-Generating Ability

0826 GMT - Wood Group's 2023 results bring focus back to its cash-generation ability as net debt excluding leases was above January's guidance, Jefferies says. The company said then this was due to foreign exchange and the timing of customer receipts in December. Cash exceptionals for the consulting and engineering company for 2024 are guided higher to $120 million, from a previous $65 million, but $50 million of this is related to the delivery of its simplification program, which targets annualized savings of around $60 million from 2025, Jefferies analysts Mark Wilson and Jamie Franklin say in a note. Shares are down 0.3% at 147.70 pence. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)


Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones Newswires; paul.larkins@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-26-24 1321ET