The FTSE 100 closed up 0.7% on Tuesday, with Imperial Brands leading the risers after the tobacco group--which houses Davidoff, Gauloises and JPS among its brands--published numbers for the first half. "Pretax profits fell to GBP1.2 billion [$1.48 billion], largely due to the costs of leaving Russia, which resulted in a charge of GBP201 million, while a better-than-expected performance in its Next Generation Products revenue has also helped," says Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets U.K. Vodafone posted fiscal 2022 results and guidance that were both uninspiring, Hewson says, adding that focus has been on CEO Nick Read's strategy for the business going forward.

Companies News: 

Vodafone Group FY 2022 Adjusted Earnings Rose on Revenue Growth, Cost Control

Vodafone Group PLC said Tuesday that fiscal 2022 adjusted Ebitda rose on revenue growth and strong cost control.

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U.K. Watchdog Refers LSEG's GBP274M Deal for Quantile to In-Depth Investigation

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday that it is referring the acquisition of Quantile Group Ltd. by London Stock Exchange Group PLC to an in-depth investigation.

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Imperial Brands 1H Profit Fell on Charges Related to Leaving Russian Market

Imperial Brands PLC on Tuesday reported a fall in pretax profit for the first half due to charges related to its exit from Russia, and raised its dividend payout.

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Engie Upgrades 2022 Guidance on Strong 1Q

Engie SA on Tuesday said that it has upgraded its full-year guidance following a strong performance in the first quarter.

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S4 Capital Agrees on Media.Monks-TheoremOne Combination to Expand Presence in the US

S4 Capital PLC said Tuesday that it has agreed to a combination between Media.Monks and TheoremOne to expand its presence in the U.S. market.

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KKR Agrees to Acquire ContourGlobal for $2.1 Bln

U.S. private equity firm KKR & Co. said Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire FTSE 250 power generation group ContourGlobal PLC for $2.14 billion.

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Victorian Plumbing 1H 2022 Pretax Profit, Revenue Fall; Backs Guidance

Victorian Plumbing Group PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit fell for the first half of fiscal 2022 after booking higher costs and a fall in revenue, and backed its guidance for the year.

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Britvic Says 1H Pretax Profit Rose on Higher Consumption; to Buy Back Shares

Britvic PLC said Tuesday that its pretax profit for the first half of its fiscal 2022, driven by increased consumption volumes, and that it is planning a share buyback program.

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Shoe Zone Swung to 1H Pretax Profit as Revenue Rose; Reinstates Dividends

Shoe Zone PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2022 on increased revenue, and reinstated interim dividends, as it continued to recover from the pandemic.

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Angling Direct FY 2022 Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose on Improved Pricing, Buying

Angling Direct PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit and revenue rose for fiscal 2022 after improved buying and pricing due to category management.

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Mears Group CEO to Retire; Results for First Four Months of 2022 Ahead of Views

Mears Group PLC said Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer David Miles will retire and that its current Chief Operating Officer Lucas Critchley will assume the role at a future date.

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Land Securities Swung to FY 2022 Pretax Profit Amid Pandemic Recovery

Land Securities Group PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a pretax profit in fiscal 2022 as it recovered from the hit from the coronavirus pandemic.

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C&C Group Swung to FY 2022 Profit on Strong Revenue as Restrictions Eased

C&C Group PLC on Tuesday reported a swing to pretax profit in fiscal 2022 as performance was boosted by fewer restrictions and cost managing, and said that the new fiscal year has started strongly.

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Fintel Says Year-To-Date Performance Has Been Strong, in Line With Views

Fintel PLC said Tuesday that its performance in the year to date has been strong and in line with expectations.

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AdvancedAdvT Launches GBP253.6 Mln Offer for M&C Saatchi -- Update

AdvancedAdvT Ltd. on Tuesday launched a 253.6 million pound ($312.5 million) takeover for advertising company M&C Saatchi PLC.

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Eckoh Sees FY 2022 Revenue in Line, Profit Ahead After Growth in US Secure Payments

Eckoh PLC said Tuesday that revenue for fiscal 2022 was in line with market expectations and that profit was ahead after strong annualized recurring revenue growth in U.S. Secure Payments and a resilient performance in the U.K.

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Smartspace Software FY 2022 Loss Widened; Expects Strong Growth in FY 2023

Smartspace Software PLC on Tuesday reported a widened loss for the year ended Jan. 31, and said it expects strong growth in fiscal 2023.

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Tritax EuroBox 1H Pretax Profit Rose on Property Gains

Tritax EuroBox PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit for the first half of its fiscal 2022 significantly rose as revenue grew on the back of property value gains.

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Sureserve Group 1H 2022 Pretax Profit Up; Might Be Hurt by Cost Increases

Sureserve Group PLC said Tuesday that pretax profit rose in the first half of fiscal 2022 as revenue increased, and that its business might be hit by general economic headwinds in terms of cost increases.

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Watkin Jones Swung to 1H Pretax Loss After Exceptional Charge

Watkin Jones PLC said Tuesday that it swung to a pretax loss for the first half of fiscal 2022 after it booked an exceptional charge relating to the new Building Safety Act.

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Accrol Says FY 2022 Revenue, Adj Ebitda in Line With Views; Shares Rise

Shares in Accrol Group Holdings PLC rose Tuesday after the company said that revenue, adjusted Ebitda and adjusted pretax profit for fiscal 2022 were in line with market expectations, and that the board has increased confidence in its outlook for fiscal 2023.

 
Market Talk: 

DCC Looks Well-Placed to Continue Growth, Development

0855 GMT - DCC's results were in line with views as rising pretax profit and Ebitda prompted a FY 2023 estimates upgrade, Christopher Bamberry, an analyst at Peel Hunt, says in a research note. The sales, marketing and support-services company's divisions delivered growth despite global volatility around commodity pricing, supply chains and inflation, and analysts raise their pretax profit estimates to GBP596.8 million from GBP592.8 million, Bamberry notes. "DCC has a strong and liquid balance sheet which leaves the group very well-placed to continue its growth and development in the coming years," Bamberry says. Peel Hunt rates the stock buy with a 7,285-pence target price. Shares are up 3.3% at 6,476 pence. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

Land Securities' Office and Retail Prospects Are Bright

0851 GMT - Reports of office working's demise may have been premature as Land Securities returned to profit in fiscal 2022, and astonishingly the company is seeing record leasing in central London, AJ Bell says. The commercial-property developer and investment company's attractive locations are proving a must for employers that want to retain staff in the office at least some of the time, AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould says in a research note. LandSec's retail locations are recovering too as restrictions ease, with the landlord putting effort in making these attractive destinations for shoppers, the brokerage says. "Occupancy rates are also up, though this recovery could be cut short as households cut back on spending amid cost-of-living pressures," Mould says. Shares are up 0.6% at 746.2 pence. (joseph.hoppe@wsj.com)

UK Labor Market Should Ease Somewhat Next Year

0850 GMT - The U.K.'s labor market showed signs of further tightening in March and April, but it should slacken gradually over the next 12 months and alleviate the pressure on wages, Pantheon Macroeconomics' chief U.K. economist Samuel Tombs says in a note. The participation rate is likely to increase, with new graduates and immigrants entering the jobs market, while labor demand is set to level off as the economy slows, the economic-research firm says. This should keep a lid on wage growth, and a firm grip on public-sector pay increases should also help to anchor improved earnings in the private sector, Tombs says. "The [Bank of England's] Monetary Policy Committee will not need to hike [the] bank rate this year to the 2%-plus level currently envisaged by markets," he says. (xavier.fontdegloria@wsj.com)

 

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones Newswires; paul.larkins@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 17, 2022 12:55 ET (16:55 GMT)

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