(Alliance News) - BP PLC on Tuesday announced better-than-expected first quarter profit reflecting "exceptional" oil trading results thanks to higher energy prices. Read More
(Alliance News) - Howden Joinery Group PLC on Tuesday reported steady sales growth in the first four months of 2026, saying its "near-sourced" supply chain is not being affected by US-Israeli war on Iran. Read More
(Alliance News) - Barclays reports a rise in first-quarter profit and announces a new share buyback, BP delivers earnings growth and a higher dividend as it benefits from elevated oil prices driven by the Iran war, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners posts revenue growth. Read More
WH Smith PLC - Swindon, England-based travel retailer - Executive Chair Leo Quinn buys 17,764 shares at GBP5.58 and GBP5.60, worth GBP99,389, on Friday last week. WH Smith shares fell more than 10% on Thursday last week after the company suspended its dividend payments due to reduced interim profit and lowered its guidance as the Middle East crisis crimps travel. Read More
(Alliance News) - Claire's has shut all its 154 high street shops across the UK and Ireland. Read More
(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to open lower on Tuesday, as markets weigh fresh developments in US-Iran negotiations and shifting oil prices. Read More
(Alliance News) - Keir Starmer will lead talks on the economic fallout of the Iran crisis amid renewed calls from dozens of nations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Read More
(Alliance News) - The UK government has said it will introduce "age or functionality restrictions" on social media for under 16s, Education Minister Olivia Bailey has said. Read More
(Alliance News) - UK's King Charles III met Donald Trump at the White House Monday, kicking off a high-stakes state visit shadowed by transatlantic tensions and a fresh alleged attempt to assassinate the US president. Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA - Madrid-based airline operator - Completes reduction of share capital by cancelling 115.5 million treasury shares. Announces that the public deed recording the capital reduction through the cancellation was registered with the Madrid Commercial Register on Wednesday last week. Expects the cancelled shares to be excluded from the corresponding stock exchanges "in the forthcoming days." Says its share capital amounts to EUR461.2 million or 4.61 billion shares. Read More
Directa Plus PLC - Lomazzo, Italy-based graphene products manufacturer - Appoints James Lumb and Howard Smith of Interpath Ltd as joint administrators to manage its affairs "for the purposes of achieving a better result for the company's creditors as a whole than would be likely if the Company were wound up". Directa also confirms that the voluntary liquidation process for Italian subsidiary Directa Spa has been certified. Additionally, it says initial meetings have taken place with interested parties regarding the potential sale of Setcar SA, its Romanian environmental remediation subsidiary. Says talks are ongoing but that there is no certainty that any transaction will conclude. Adds that the outcome of the Italian liquidation and Setcar disposal will determine whether any returns will be generated for shareholders. Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More
IQE PLC - Cardiff-based supplier of advanced compound semiconductor wafer products and material solutions - Raises GBP81 million via an investment from a strategic partner, subscriptions, and a proposed placing and retail offer. MACOM Technology Solutions Inc invests GBP30 million via a subscription at 19.8 pence each. In addition, IQE issues GBP15 million of new secured zero-coupon convertible loan notes to MACOM at the issue price. Raises a further GBP22.8 million via the redemption of existing convertible loan notes and reinvestment by the noteholders by way of subscription at 19.8p per share. In addition, plans to raise GBP11 million via a placing at the same price and GBP2 million by a retail offer. Proceeds will be used to repay existing bank debt, redeem the existing loan notes and strengthen the balance sheet, IQE says. As a result, IQE ceases its strategic review and is no longer considered to be in an "offer period". Alongside the investment, IQE and MACOM will enter into long-term strategic supply agreements. Chief Executive Jutta Meier says: "This proposed transaction is transformational for IQE. The investment from MACOM and other existing shareholders will provide the balance sheet strength to allow us to capitalise on the opportunities in front of us, while maintaining our unique global footprint. We are now better positioned than ever to execute on our growth strategy." Read More