21st Sep 2026 07:56
(Alliance News) - JD Sports has struck a deal in Mexico, a region with a "significant runway for growth", while Resolute Mining has lowered its output view but lifted cost guidance.
Here is what you need to know before the London market open:
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MARKETS
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FTSE 100: called up 0.4% at 10,700.43
GBP: higher at USD1.3377 (USD1.3372 at previous London equities close)
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ECONOMICS
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Canada's finance minister has urged the UK to "team up" with Canada and the EU economically, arguing closer partnerships are needed in the face of a changing global political landscape. Francois-Philippe Champagne said the countries shared a similar "vision" of the world. He told the BBC: "We need to look at partnership in a different way, and the great thing is that when you look at Canada, and I would say the UK, we share the same values. "We are very aligned in our vision of the world. Why don't we team up? We are independent and sovereign, but we are stronger together." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month proposed Canada join the European bloc as an "associate member". The proposed associate status does not exist under EU treaties, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledging its role is yet to be defined. Champagne said: "This is all about the substance, to build an alliance of the future. "The world has changed. America has changed. So we need to change."
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BROKER RATINGS
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Peel Hunt cuts Barratt Redrow to 'hold' - price target 300 pence
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COMPANIES - FTSE 100
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JD Sports Fashion has entered a partnership with retail distributor Axo, as the sportswear company takes its "first step into Mexico". Axo will operate JD stores and e-commerce in Mexico, using the FTSE 100 listed company's brand and intellectual property. "Axo and JD will also leverage JD's own-brand and exclusive product portfolio, to deliver a differentiated proposition for Mexican consumers across footwear, apparel and accessories," JD Sports says. "Commencing in 2027, Axo will operate more than 140 JD premises in Mexico, leveraging its existing retail estate of sneaker stores. Over time, key locations are expected to be upsized and reimagined in line with JD's flagship 'bigger and better' format, creating some of the most compelling sports fashion destinations and bringing an entirely new sports fashion destination to Mexican consumers." Mexico offers a "significant runway for growth", with the market valued at some USD6.5 billion and expected to grow to over USD10 billion by 2034. The Mexico move builds on its presence in the US and Canada, JD Sports says. "JD and Courir currently have 75 franchise stores across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, supporting the group's ambition to expand into attractive new markets through partnerships under a proven model with best-in-class local operators," JD Sports adds.
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COMPANIES - FTSE 250
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North Atlantic Smaller reports an improvement in its net asset value despite a period of "considerable volatility in equity markets". NAV per share at its July 31 half-year end amounted to 598.1 pence, up 7.7% from 555.4p at January 31. It notes its total return to shareholders was 9%, "very marginally behind" the sterling-adjusted S&P composite index. "Once again, technology performed well and major oil companies in particular out performed. Sterling fell against the dollar which impacted relative performance as the dollar related assets were now accounting for less than 20% of the portfolio," it adds. The Iran war contributed to "considerable volatility in equity markets over the six months", the firm adds. The firm invests in smaller companies mainly "based in countries bordering the North Atlantic Ocean".
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OTHER COMPANIES
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Resolute Mining says output at the Syama gold asset has "remained below plan" due to a tricky backdrop in Mali. The firm has cut its output view as a result. "Production at Syama has remained below plan due to the challenging operating environment in Mali, which continues to impact performance across underground mining, open pit mining and sulphide processing," Resolute Mining reports. "These issues have continued to reduce ore availability, delay access to higher-grade ore sources and impact plant throughput and recovery." It now expects 2026 production at the asset to be between 150,000 and 160,000 ounces, lowered from 195,000 to 210,000 ounces. It has lowered its total group output view to 205,000 to 225,000 from a 250,000 to 275,000 range. What's more, it has lifted its forecast for group all-in sustaining costs to a USD2,250 to USD2,350 an ounce range. Its prior AISC view was between USD2,000 to USD2,200 an ounce.
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Craneware reports an increase in annual earnings, but progress was "below our expectations". The provider of financial software for the healthcare sector says pretax profit in the year to June 30 rose 7.4% to USD25.8 million from USD24.0 million, as revenue inched up 0.1% to USD206.0 million from USD205.7 million. "Delivering growth consistently over an 18-year period as a public company is rarely straightforward. FY26 was challenging and growth was below our expectations," Chief Executive Officer Keith Neilson says. In July, it said it was responding to a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorised access to a subset of its data environment. Craneware said it notified the Information Commissioner's Office in the UK and the Federal Bureau of Investigations in the US. Neilson adds on Monday: "The cyber incident has led us to reset our near-term financial expectations to provide certainty to stakeholders, but it does not change our confidence in the group's long-term opportunity. In FY27, our priorities are to renew long-term customer contracts, expand recurring revenue through sales to new and existing customers, ensure our cost base is suitably sized and maintain strong cash generation, providing a platform for growth in FY28 and beyond." Craneware has lowered its final dividend to 17 pence per share from 18.5p, but its total payout is steady at 32p.
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Consultancy Elixirr International hails "another strong first half" and it expects an annual outcome in line with market expectations. Pretax profit in the first half of 2026 rose 17% to GBP18.0 million from GBP15.4 million a year prior, with revenue up to GBP89.0 million from GBP71.4 million. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation surged 29% to GBP27.6 million from GBP21.5 million. "We have had another strong first half, with revenue up 25% and adjusted Ebitda up 29%, demonstrating continued profitable growth as we scale and invest in the business for our next phase of growth," CEO Stephen Newton says. "AI is changing what our clients need from us. Businesses are moving quickly from asking what AI can do to working out how they can use it to transform the way they operate and grow. We have built a powerful combination of consulting, technology, data and AI expertise to help them do that, with AI-related revenue increasing by 185% in the first half." Looking ahead, it sees 2026 adjusted Ebitda "in line with market expectations" with revenue "broadly in line".
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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Related Shares:
Resolute MiningCranewareNorth Atl.smlrJD SportsBarratt Redrow