FTSE 100 Edges Higher As Investors React To Earnings

RTTNews | 224 일 전

(RTTNews) - UK stocks are slightly higher Thursday morning with investors digesting the latest batch of economic data, and earnings news, besides awaiting the monetary policy announcement from the European Central Bank.

The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 23.14 points or 0.27% at 8,580.95 a little while ago.

Airtel Africa is rising 9% after reporting strong growth in nine-month pre-tax profit. The company posted a profit before tax of $494 million, up 796.6% from $55 million last year.

Net profit attributable was $164 million in the nine-month period, compared to a loss of $61 million in the same period last year. Airtel Africa recorded basic earnings per share of 4.4 cents, compared to a loss of 1.6 cents a year ago.

EasyJet is up 3.6% and Intermediate Capital is gaining 2.5%. Prudential, Taylor Wimpey, RightMove, Kingfisher, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Barratt Redrow, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, United Utilities, Diploma and Marks & Spencer are up 1.5 to 2%.

Schrodders, IMI, Vistry Group, IAG, Auto Trader Group, Croda International, Spirax-Sarco, Mondi and Melrose Industries are also up with strong gains.

BT Group is declining 2.5% are reporting lower revenues for the third quarter. The company reported third-quarter profit before tax of 427 million, up 1% from last year, primarily due to EBITDA growth. Adjusted EBITDA was 2.10 billion pounds, up 4% from last year's 2.03 billion pounds.

The company's revenue in the third quarter was 5.2 billion pounds, down 3% from the prior year. Adjusted revenue 5.18 billion pounds fell 3% from 5.34 billion pounds a year ago.

Whitbread, Admiral Group, Sage Group and GSK are down 1 to 2%.

On the economic front, a report from Bank of England said net consumer credit borrowing by individuals in UK was £1.045 billion in December 2024, slightly up from £0.9 billion in November and above forecasts of £0.95 billion.

A separate data from Bank of England said net mortgage approvals for house purchases in the UK, an indicator of future borrowing, rose to 66.53 thousand in December 2024 from an upwardly revised 66.06 thousand in the previous month, and above expectations of 65.4 thousand.

UK car production fell 27.1% year-on-year in December 2024, totaling 45,022 units, marking the tenth straight month of decline, and reflecting the ongoing shift to EVs and decreased demand in key global markets. In 2024, total car production decreased by 13.9% to 779,584 units, reaching the lowest annual output since 1954, aside from the pandemic period.

Australian Market Extends Early Gains In Mid-market

The Australian stock market is extending its early gains in mid-market moves on Friday, reversing the losses in the previous session, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is moving above the 8,850 level, with gains across most sectors led by mining and technology stocks. Energy stocks were the only weak spot.

RTTNews | 32 분 전

Asian Markets Track Wall Street Higher

Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Friday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, as weaker than expected U.S. consumer price inflation and producer price inflation data as well as recent downbeat monthly jobs data have reinforced expectations of a US Fed rate cut at next week's meeting. Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday.

RTTNews | 55 분 전

Sensex, Nifty Seen Up As Infosys Unveils Record Rs. 18,000 Crore Share Buyback

Indian shares look set to open higher on Friday as overnight inflation and labor market data added to recent optimism about the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

RTTNews | 1 시간 22 분 전

Higher Open Called For Thai Stock Market

The Thai stock market has moved higher in five straight sessions, adding more than 35 points or 2.9 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just beneath the 1,290-point plateau and it's expected to extend its gains on Friday.

RTTNews | 1 시간 55 분 전

Indonesia Shares Tipped To Open In The Green

The Indonesia stock market has moved higher in consecutive trading days, advancing almost 120 points or 1.5 percent in that span. The Jakarta Composite Index now rests just beneath the 7,750-point plateau and it's likely to open to the upside again on Friday.

RTTNews | 2 시간 25 분 전

Japanese Market Notably Higher

Extending the gains in the previous two sessions, the Japanese market is notably higher on Friday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei 225 is moving well above the 44,600 level, with gains in automakers, financial and technology stocks.

RTTNews | 2 시간 34 분 전

Hong Kong Bourse May Reverse Thursday's Losses

The Hong Kong stock market on Thursday ended the four-day winning streak in which it had climbed almost 1,250 points or 4.9 percent. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 26,080-point plateau although it figures to find renewed support on Friday.

RTTNews | 2 시간 40 분 전

China Shares Tipped To Open To The Upside On Friday

The China stock market has tracked higher in two straight sessions, rising almost 70 points or 2 percent in that span. The Shanghai Composite Index now sits just above the 3,875-point plateau although it may see additional support on Friday.

RTTNews | 2 시간 55 분 전

EURUSD	1.1725	GBPUSD	1.3556	AUDUSD	0.6662
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