14th Oct 2026 07:52
(Alliance News) - London Stock Exchange Group has struck a data partnership with chipmaker Nvidia, Softcat reports yearly profit ahead of consensus and Keller has set out medium-term aims. Elsewhere, James Halstead has lifted its payout again and Vertu Motors expects annual profit ahead of market forecasts.
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 0.2% at 10,675.13
GBP: higher at USD1.3268 (USD1.3249 at previous London equities close)
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ECONOMICS
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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street on Wednesday in a show of support after Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia. The PM is expected to use the visit to announce an acceleration of military support for Ukraine, and to pledge further rounds of sanctions aimed at Moscow. The accelerated support will see faster deliveries of British lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine, which have proved effective against Russian jet-powered drones. The UK will also urge its allies to increase the pressure on Russia, with Chancellor John Healey using IMF meetings in Bangkok to call for a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, LNG.
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BROKER RATINGS
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JPMorgan raises Anglo American to 'neutral' (underweight) - price target 3,850 (3,350) pence
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COMPANIES - FTSE 100
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London Stock Exchange Group says it is working with artificial intelligence chip maker Nvidia to aid financial institutions in analysing years of market data at "significantly greater speed and scale". Users will be able to analyse LSEG tick history, which contains comprehensive historical market data, using Nvidia's cuDF data analysis offering. "This collaboration expands how customers can draw insight from LSEG's trusted, governed Tick History. Customers want to work with detailed historical data at speed, without the burden and risk of creating another full copy. This helps firms analyse deeper histories closer to the point of decision, while keeping the permissions and controls they rely on fully intact," said Ron Lefferts, LSEG's co-head of Data & Analytics.
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COMPANIES - FTSE 250
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Geotechnical contractor Keller will set out new medium-term targets at a capital markets day in London on Wednesday afternoon. The event will delve into the firm's "exposure to structural growth drivers" as well as bolt-on merger & acquisition opportunities to boost growth. Keller's medium-term targets include an organic revenue growth aim of 5% to 7% on a compound annual basis, as well as an operating profit margin aim of around 7%. In 2025, Keller's revenue climbed 3.4% to GBP3.09 billion, rising 5.9% at constant currency. Its underlying operating profit margin last year was steady at 7.1%. Between 2026 and 2030, it targets total free cash flow of around GBP800 million. Keller adds that current trading remains in line with board expectations.
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IT infrastructure products and services provider Softcat reports better than expected annual profit. In the year to July 31, pretax profit increased 14% to GBP202.8 million from GBP178.2 million, while revenue rose 35% to GBP1.98 billion from GBP1.46 billion. Underlying operating profit was 19% higher at GBP215.1 million from GBP180.1 million, Softcat reports, topping company-compiled consensus of GBP208.0 million. "Softcat delivered outstanding performance in FY2026, continuing the momentum established in the first half. Growth in gross profit and underlying operating profit came in significantly ahead of our expectations at the start of the year," Chief Executive Officer Graham Charlton says. "AI is one of several factors making IT infrastructure more critical, complex and strategically important for our customers’ operations. While applications evolve and embed AI functionality, infrastructure foundations are being developed to cope with the rise in demand for compute, storage, faster and more resilient networks, better data architecture, greater security and stronger governance. At the same time, memory chip supply constraints have added complexity to pricing, availability and planning. This is exactly the sort of environment in which Softcat’s strengths shine brightest." Softcat has lifted its final dividend by 5.9% to 21.6 pence per share from 20.4p. Its total ordinary dividend amounts to 31.5p, up 7.5% from 29.3p. There is no special dividend this time around, however, after a 16.1p payout of that kind in financial 2025. Looking ahead, it expects high single-digit underlying operating profit growth in financial 2027. Company-compiled consensus currently stands at GBP216.9 million, which would represent only a 0.8% rise on what Softcat achieved in the year just ended.
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OTHER COMPANIES
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Flooring firm James Halstead says it has increased its dividend again, though annual earnings declined in a "difficult year". "The Gulf situation created clear pressure on material and energy costs while weaker demand and structural changes in the UK distribution market also affected sales and profit in the short term," Executive Chair Mark Halstead says. Pretax profit in the year ended June 30 decreased 13% to GBP48.2 million from GBP55.1 million, while revenue fell 0.8% to GBP259.9 million from GBP262.0 million. Nonetheless, it raises its final dividend to 6.10p per share from 6.05p, giving it a total payout of 8.95p per share, up from 8.80p. It is its "50th year of increased dividend", Chair Halstead says. Looking ahead, the firm says: "The ongoing concerns over energy costs and the upward cost pressure on other materials locally and in relation to global supply chains are key short term matters to contend with. Every year has its issues that need focus, experience and solutions but as in years past we formulate resolutions to the best of our abilities."
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Vertu Motors says its first half profit increased on the back of record revenue, and the motor dealer reports the new car market is showing "robust growth". Vertu says pretax profit in the six months to August 31 increased 24% on-year to GBP24.2 million from GBP19.5 million, while revenue rose 3.4% to a record GBP2.60 billion from GBP2.51 billion. "Gross profit growth was delivered across every channel, while maintaining firm control of costs despite ongoing inflationary pressures. The group has now delivered three upgrades to current year profits since the start of the financial year," CEO Robert Forrester says. "The new car market is showing robust growth with retail sales rebalancing against fleet which aids retailer profits." Vertu has lifted its interim dividend to 1.00p per share from 0.90p. Looking ahead, it expects annual results ahead of current market expectations, which it puts at GBP26.5 million for adjusted pretax profit. This would represent a roughly 8.2% rise from GBP24.5 million in financial 2026. For the just ended half-year, adjusted pretax profit was 19% higher at GBP23.8 million from GBP20.0 million a year earlier.
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Unconditional dealings in Airtel Mobile Commerce shares kick off on Wednesday, following a somewhat underwhelming first few days on the stock market. The company, which operates as Airtel Money, priced its initial public offering at 196p per share, giving it a market capitalisation of GBP5.3 billion. However, shares closed at 176p on Tuesday, down 10% from the float price. FTSE 100-listed Airtel Africa did not sell any shares in the mobile money business, saying it expects to "remain a long-term strategic shareholder".
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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Related Shares:
Anglo AmericanVertuLondon Stock ExchangeSoftcatKellerJames HalsteadAirtel MobileAirtel Africa