The FTSE 100 index closed Friday up 0.3% at 7706 points lifted by banks after Standard Chartered's earnings and despite a fall in oil-exposed stocks and miners. Shares of the Asian-focused bank led the index's top risers, up 4.85%, after launching a new share buyback and beating profit expectations, followed by Rightmove and the pharmaceutical heavyweight Astrazeneca, up 1.85% and 1.8% respectively. On the other side of the table, St. James's Place shares closed down 3%, followed by Admiral Group and Schroders, down 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively.


COMPANIES NEWS:

Standard Chartered Unveils New Buyback, Guides for Growth -- Update

Standard Chartered PLC unveiled a $1 billion buyback and forecast higher income this year, after it posted a quarterly earnings beat on the back of topline growth, lower impairments and the sale of its aviation finance business.

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Volvo Car to Give Shareholders $919 Mln in Polestar Stock as It Pares Down Stake

STOCKHOLM--Volvo Car will give Polestar shares worth around 9.5 billion Swedish kronor ($919.4 million) to its shareholders as it pares down its stake and follows through on a pledge to stop funding the electric car maker.

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STM Group Expects Higher Revenue on Better-Than-Expected Interest Income

STM Group expects to report revenue ahead of views with in-line overall performance for 2023 as its takeover by Jambo progresses.

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Chemring Group Expectations Unchanged Despite Bad Weather Delaying Orders

Chemring Group said expectations for the fiscal year remain unchanged despite bad weather hurting operations at its manufacturing sites and causing delays to some deliveries scheduled for the first quarter.

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Coca-Cola Europacific Profit, Revenue Rises Despite Soft Demand in Asia-Pacific

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners said its pretax profit and revenue rose last year due to strong performance in Europe offsetting Asia-Pacific weakness.


Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires;


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-23-24 1206ET