ROUNDUP 2: FMC slightly exceeds own targets for 2023 - Confidence for 2024

BAD HOMBURG - Dialysis specialist Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) intends to make further progress this year. "2024 will be a year of accelerated profitable growth in which we come closer to our ambitious medium-term margin target," said Group CEO Helen Giza at the presentation of the annual results in Bad Homburg on Tuesday. At midday, the MDax-listed share was slightly below the previous day's level at 39.20 euros, having previously risen by almost 5 percent at its peak. The dialysis group's results met expectations, wrote Jefferies analyst James Vane-Tempest in a study. The sales target and the operating profit target for 2024 were roughly in line with consensus expectations.

ROUNDUP: Bayer cuts dividend due to debt burden - shares fluctuate

FRANKFURT - Bayer is cutting its dividend, also under pressure from legal disputes in the USA involving billions of euros. The pharmaceutical and agrochemical company announced on Monday shortly before the close of trading that only the legally required minimum would be paid out for three years. This would result in a dividend of 11 cents per share for 2023, which the Group management also intends to propose to the Annual General Meeting in April. Bayer had paid out EUR 2.40 per share for 2022. The Group explained the cuts with the debt level, high interest rates and a tight free cash flow situation.

US DIY chain Home Depot expects only slow recovery of business

ATLANTA - The world's largest home improvement chain Home Depot expects business to improve only slightly in the new financial year (ending January). Sales are expected to increase by one percent in 2024, as the US group announced on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia. On a comparable basis, however, a minus of one percent is likely to be recorded. Analysts had hoped for a small increase in advance.

Walmart expects slower growth - purchase of smart TV manufacturer Vizio

BENTONVILLE - The supermarket group Walmart expects weaker growth in the new financial year due to customers' reluctance to buy. "They're picky," Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told Bloomberg news agency on Tuesday. Consumers continue to shop regularly, but are spending less money. The subdued consumer mood is likely to continue to some extent in the financial year running until the end of January 2025, the manager explained. At constant exchange rates, sales are only likely to grow by three to four percent.

ROUNDUP: Gases group Air Liquide increases profit - share price rises

PARIS - The French gases manufacturer Air Liquide increased its profits last year thanks to good demand. Efficiency measures and price increases in the industrial division boosted profits. CEO Francois Jackow was optimistic that the company would be even more profitable in the coming years. Air Liquide shares rose significantly on the stock exchange following the news.

ROUNDUP: Barclays wants to cut costs significantly - billions for shareholders

LONDON - The British bank Barclays wants to drive up its profits with savings worth billions. By 2026, costs are to be reduced by two billion British pounds (2.5 billion euros), the bank announced at the publication of its annual results in London on Tuesday. According to Barclays CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan's plan, shareholders will be the main beneficiaries: The bank intends to spend a total of at least 10 billion pounds on dividends and share buybacks between 2024 and 2026. On the stock market, the news was rewarded with a jump in the share price.

ROUNDUP: Strikes bring Lufthansa to a standstill - negotiations continue

FRANKFURT - Lufthansa passengers were again put to a hard test of patience on Tuesday. After more than 1000 flight cancellations as a result of another Verdi warning strike on the ground, hopes are now being pinned on the wage negotiations, which are to continue on Wednesday. Parallel to the talks at Lufthansa headquarters in Frankfurt, the union is negotiating with the private aviation security companies in Berlin. On February 1, around 25,000 employees also staged a warning strike at passenger checkpoints, resulting in more than 1,100 flight cancellations.

EU car market grows in January

BRUSSELS - Growth in new car registrations in the European Union has recovered at the start of the year after a setback in December. The number of newly registered cars rose by 12.1 percent to 851,689 in January compared to the same period last year, according to the European industry association Acea in Brussels on Tuesday. The major markets of Germany, Italy, France and Spain saw double-digit percentage growth at the start of the year in some cases. The market share of battery-electric cars also rose to almost 11 percent.

^

Further news

-ROUNDUP: Salzgitter sells subsidiary Mannesmann Stainless Tubes

-Numerous company bosses call for more industry-friendly EU policy

-Court dismisses lawsuit against vaccine manufacturer

-Google wants to protect trade secrets in antitrust proceedings at the BGH

-Study: Price drop for e-cars causes leasing rates to rise

-ROUNDUP 2: Hospitality industry has not yet digested corona shock

-Uniper boss pleads for the use of blue hydrogen

-ROUNDUP: Jost Werke posts record operating profit thanks to cost-cutting measures

-IT service provider Nagarro expects recovery in the current year

-Sluggish global economy: port logistics company HHLA makes less profit

-Court: Russia must pay Yukos shareholders 50 billion

-Leica Camera Group achieves record sales again

-Gerolsteiner Brunnen increases turnover again

-Microsoft also invests billions in AI in Spain

-Harvest at Nordzucker finished - weather makes for difficult conditions

-European manufacturers complain about unsafe toys on marketplace Temu

-No agreement reached in negotiations for Giessen and Marburg University Hospital

-Bayer: Start of Phase II trial against venous thrombosis - further indications possible

-Georg Schürmann resigns as head of Triodos Germany

-Defeat for widow in dispute over entrepreneur Thiele's billion-euro inheritance

-Verdi: Want collective wage agreement at Lufthansa this week

-Mercedes-Benz recalls around 250,000 cars worldwide

-Encavis CFO: Acquisition target exceeded by a third last year

-Construction crisis weighs on Schwäbisch Hall's new business

-ROUNDUP: Air show in Singapore without Boeing jets - Comac shows C919

-More employees in the German electrical industry

-ROUNDUP: Private rail freight companies criticize extensions for general refurbishments

-ROUNDUP 2: Hospitality industry has not yet digested corona shock

-Uniper boss pleads for the use of blue hydrogen

-Members of SC Paderborn against investors joining DFL

-Works councils at DB Cargo against restructuring plans

-96 boss Kind would not be worried about an open vote

-BVB coach Terzic warns against Eindhoven: 'Outstandingly good'°

Customer reference:

ROUNDUP: You are reading a summary in the company overview. There are several reports on this topic on the dpa-AFX news service.

/jha