UK stocks traded lower on Tuesday dragged down by weakness in the mining and banking sectors. At 8.45am the FTSE 100 of leading shares was 0.5% lower at 7,031 points.
A report this morning by market research consultancy Kantar said UK grocery sales rose 1.3% on a like-for-like basis year-on-year for the four weeks ended 5 September, but the period also saw the lowest level of promotions in 15 years as price rises took hold.
Trading in Asia was mixed with the Shanghai SE Composite index losing 1.4% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.7%. Brent Crude gained 0.7% to $71.04 per barrel and Gold prices were flat at $1,794 per ounce.
COMPANY ROUND UP
Shares in shoe and sports apparel retailer JD Sports Fashion (JD.) jumped 9% to £11.42 after it said first half revenues bounced back strongly, surging by 53% to £3.89 billion, while pre-tax profit jumped from £41.5 million to £364.6 million.
For the full year the firm forecast an ‘outturn headline’ pre-tax profit of at least £750 million. The company said it was encouraged by trading in the second half but cautioned footfall remained comparatively weak in many countries.
FIRE DAMAGE
Food retail and technology company Ocado (OCDO) reported a 10.6% fall in revenues to £517.5 million at its joint venture retail business with Marks & Spencer (MKS) over the 13 weeks to 17 August, as tough comparatives and disruption caused by the fire at its Erith CFC impacted trading.
Operating losses in the second half due to business disruption and lost orders are expected to be around £10 million with another £10 million write-off related to stock and fixed assets.
The company also highlighted that rising labour costs could impact full year numbers by around £5 million. The company said it expected to deliver ‘strong’ revenue growth in 2022. Shares dropped 5.7% to £17.78.
ACQUISITION
Distribution and services group Bunzl (BNZL) announced it had agreed to acquire US-based safety business and a medical supplies distributor McCue Corporation, for an undisclosed sum.
Boston-based McCue, which also has operations in Australia and Singapore, would provide Bunzl with a strong position in a fast-growing market segment, the company said. The shares added 0.6% to £25.86.
Food retailer Morrisons (MRW) said its pension trustees had agreed in principle a support package with private equity group CD&R in relation to the scheme’s aims to be in a position to buy out the liabilities over the next 10-years.
Andrew Higginson, chair of Morrisons, said: ‘The board is pleased that the trustees and CD&R have engaged constructively and have now reached an agreement, which safeguards the interests of the members of Morrisons' pension schemes.’ Shares edged down 0.2% to 291.2p.
RIDING HIGH
Train and bus ticket distributor Trainline (TRN) revealed ticket sales in the second quarter had recovered to 71% of same period in the 2020 financial year, their highest level since start of the pandemic.
The company expects first half adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) to be between £13 million and £15 million. The shares gained 3% to 389p.
Alternative asset and corporate services provider Sanne (SNN),which recently agreed to be acquired by private equity buyer Apex, booked a 19% fall in first-half profit as currency headwinds squeezed its margins.
Pre-tax profit for the six months through June decreased to £9.4 million, down from £11.6 million year-on-year, even as revenue rose 8.1% to £90.7 million. The shares were unchanged at 909p.
OTHER NEWS
IT group Bytes Technology (BYTS) said first half adjusted operating profit grew by a high teens percentage driven by strengthened demand in the corporate sector alongside continued growth from the public sector. The shares dipped 0.6% to 523p.
Music products group Focusrite (TUNE:AIM) increased its annual earnings and sales guidance, although it cautioned it faced supply constraints due to the semi-conductor shortage and higher freight rates.
Revenue for the year through August was expected to rise to around £173 million, up from £130 million year-on-year and ahead of market expectations, the firm said.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation also were expected to beat market expectations, it added. The shares gained 2.4% to £17.28.
A list of FTSE 100 movers can be seen HERE
