Final dividend of 1p per shareAI driving new businessShares up 13% this yearShares in S4 Capital (SFOR) gained over 12% to 37p in morning trading as the digital media group promised its first ever dividend, although it cautioned uncertain macroeconomic conditions and client caution remained.The company headed up by former WPP (WPP) boss Sir Martin Sorrell reported full-year 2024 results in...

Shares fall as much as 17%Fourth-quarter sales disappointCompany warns of 'headwinds'Shares in WPP (WPP) fell over 17% to 637p at one point in early morning trading as the advertising giant shared a gloomy outlook and reported lower full year 2024 revenue of £14.74 billion compared to £14.84 billion last year.The advertising giant founded by industry legend Sir Martin Sorrell saw a fall in...

London's blue chip index was up milder than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at Monday midday, as UK service sector growth for December was softer than anticipated.As well as Monday's composite and services PMI readings, the first full trading week of 2025 has various jobs data releases from the US culminating in Friday's nonfarm payrolls.More than half of UK companies plan to raise prices by...

European stocks opened in the green at the start of the week, boosted by an announcement from China's top leadership which aims to aid the Asian nation's shaky economy.The FTSE 100 index traded up 26.17 points, 0.3%, at 8,334.78. The FTSE 250 was up 36.75 points, 0.2%, at 21,095.75, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.55 points, 0.4%, at 740.77.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% higher at 837.24, the Cboe UK...

First-half operating profit down 3% to £646 millionOffloads communications firm for £611 millionInterim dividend per share unchanged at 15.0pShares in WPP (WPP) were down over 2% to 700p in morning trading as the advertising giant reported disappointing interim results and lowered full year like-for-like guidance reflecting macro pressures and weakness in China.The advertising giant reported...

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning amid news that UK house prices climbed in the month of July, with shares of housebuilders enjoying a boost.The FTSE 100 index opened up 74.16 points, 0.9%, at 8,100.85. The FTSE 250 was up 148.10 points, 0.7%, at 20,515.80, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.24 points, 0.4%, at 762.91.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.1% at 808.82, the Cboe UK...

It was a generally positive Thursday for London and European stocks, as markets reacted to the latest European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve meetings.The FTSE 100 index closed up 21.98 points, 0.3%, at 7,684.49. The FTSE 250 ended up 144.53 points, 0.8%, at 19,263.50, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.06 of a point at 749.96.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 769.77, the Cboe UK 250...

When Martin Sorrell completed his acrimonious exit in 2018 from the business he had built up over decades he had a point to prove.His S4 Capital (SFOR) vehicle was supposed to leave his former charge in the shade by adopting a similar buy-and-build model to that employed at WPP (WPP).The latter started life as wire shopping-basket manufacturer Wire and Plastic Products before Sorrell and...

£250 million investment into data and technologyTargeting a further £175 million gross savingsShares up 5% year-to-dateShares in WPP (WPP) were up nearly 3% to 802p in morning trading as the advertising giant upgraded its medium-term targets due to cost cutting and structural savings. The structural savings - announced at a capital markets day in London - will deliver annualised net cost...

The completion of YouGov?s (YOU:AIM) ?315 million purchase of the consumer panel services of GfK (9 January) is a potential gamechanger for the business.Analysts at Berenberg estimate the deal - which was first announced in July 2023 - will contribute £60 million of revenue and £12 million of adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) in the remainder of the current financial year...

London?s FTSE 100 made a tepid start to 2024, with underwhelming manufacturing data from the UK and eurozone doing little to lift sentiment.Equities in New York are called to open lower ahead of a key week for the US interest rate outlook. The latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes are released on Wednesday, before the official US jobs report on Friday.The FTSE 100 index was down 29.34 points,...

Tentative signs of sustainable margin improvement and market share gains, combined with the tailwind provided by continued recovery in elective procedures, should provide medical products company Smith & Nephew (SN.) with positive momentum heading into 2024.The shares are trading close to 10-year lows, and from a valuation perspective have rarely offered better value relative to the UK market...

AdobeIt may look like odd timing to back Adobe (ADBE:NASDAQ) just after lukewarm guidance, but we think this is a great opportunity.The creative digital software firm called for fiscal 2024 earnings per share of $17.60 to $18 on $21.3 billion to $21.5 billion revenue, a little light compared with the consensus of $18 and $21.7 billion revenue respectively.The shares plunged 7%, which seemed...

Given the hundreds of stock market announcements issued every day by UK-listed companies, it's very easy to narrow your focus either to just the shares you own or the big household names in order to keep track of what's going on. However, smaller companies can often be the 'canaries in the coal mine' of trouble ahead because changes in the economy tend to impact them much quicker than they do...

Third-quarter revenue up 7.7%Full-year growth forecast increasedNew finance chief appointedMedical products-maker Smith & Nephew (SN.) was one of the top gainers in the FTSE 100 on Thursday, up 5% after delivering strong third-quarter growth and raising its full-year outlook.Underlying revenue for the three months to 30 September grew 7.7% to $1.4 billion driven by broad-based growth across...

Meta shares fall over 4% to $299.53Google Cloud disappoints Wall Street analystsWPP third quarter revenue falls 1.8% to £3.5 billionFacebook-owner Meta Platforms (META:NASDAQ) reported a 23% increase in revenue for the quarter ended 30 September to $34.2 billion compared to $27.7 billion in the same year ago period, however it warned of softer advertising spend in the fourth quarter due to...

The recent share price performance of certain advertising companies has not impressed investors. WPP (WPP) has seen its share price fall by 8% year-to-date and S4 Capital (SFOR) has seen its shares dramatically fall 62% in the same period.Both companies have cited tech clients in the US cutting their advertising spend and the current macroeconomic climate as reasons for weak performance. This...

S4's shares are down 62% year-to-dateFull year expectations revised lower againLike-for-like revenue growth from top 20 clients of 8.9%Shares in S4 Capital (SFOR) fell by nearly 25% to 72p as the advertising group once again warned on profit 'following slower than expected trading over the summer months' and 'current client activity levels.'The second profit warning since July came as the firm...

Second-quarter growth in mid-single digits excluding USSolid new business performanceOperating profit falls 43.2%Shares in WPP (WPP) fell over 7% to 788p after the advertising giant cut its annual revenue forecast due to a lack of cash from US tech clients who are struggling with future budget spend.WPP's pre-tax profits fell 51% to £204 million for the six months ending 30 June 2023 compared...

Global advertising spend expected to grow by 3%Sporting events and US presidential election gave ad spend a boostEmerging digital categories to experience high growth in 2023Global advertising spend is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2023 with inflation driving the increase to reach $727.9 billion, according to the latest Dentsu Global Ad Spend Forecasts report.This boosted ad spend is being...