16th Mar 2026 07:56
(Alliance News) - Standard Life raises its dividend and backs its 2026 guidance, Marshalls lowers its dividend as profit falls and costs rise, while CRH says it will delist from the London Stock Exchange.
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 10,284.35
GBP: higher at USD1.3238 (USD1.3233 at previous London equities close)
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BROKER RATINGS
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Morgan Stanley raises Reckitt Benckiser to 'overweight' - price target 6,300 pence
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UBS cuts National Grid to 'sell' - price target 1,160 pence
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COMPANIES - FTSE 100
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Standard Life raises its dividend and reports a narrower loss as it says it is on track to deliver its 2026 financial targets. The insurance, savings and retirement products firm says the pretax loss attributable to owners slims to GBP432 million in 2025 from GBP1.45 billion in 2024. Total cash generation falls 3.8% to GBP1.71 billion from GBP1.78 billion, while operating cash generation climbs 5.1% to GBP1.47 billion from GBP1.40 billion. The firm raises its final dividend by 2.6% to 28.05 pence per share from 27.35p, giving a total dividend for the year of 55.40p, up 2.6% from 54.00p. Standard Life says average assets under administration rise 6.8% to GBP204.6 billion from GBP191.5 billion. Looking ahead, the company says it is on track to deliver all 2026 financial targets, and says it expects to deliver around GBP500 million of excess cash in the year. It expects mid-single digit percentage growth in operating cash generation, with GBP1.1 billion of adjusted operating profit. Adjusted operating profit jumps 15% to GBP945 million in 2025 from GBP825 million. Standard Life notes that 2026 will be its final year of using excess cash to de-lever. After 2026, excess cash will be deployed to the "highest returning opportunities". "Our results demonstrate strong progress delivering on our strategic priorities. Further profitable growth and a strengthened Solvency balance sheet have supported increased shareholder returns and greater financial flexibility for the future, underpinned by the significant and growing levels of excess cash our business generates," says Chief Executive Officer Andy Briggs.
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Segro signs an agreement to develop a powered shell data centre for an existing customer on the Slough, England trading estate. The London-based property developer says the building will provide 30,000 square metres of data centre space across three floors, with planning permission in place. The agreement includes the provision of 50 megavolt-amperes. Separately, Segro receives planning committee approval for its first fully fitted data centre in Park Royal, west London. It is developing the site in a joint venture with Pure Data Centres Group. "The critical mass of data centres we have built up at Slough over the last 20 years, together with the simplified planning zone status we have secured there were integral to enabling us to work with an existing customer to expand its campus, while allowing Segro to profitably utilise a relatively small 3.5 acre plot," says Andrew Pilsworth, managing director of data centres and strategic partnerships for Segro.
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COMPANIES - FTSE 250
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Marshalls lowers its dividend as pretax profit falls in 2025 despite higher revenue, amid higher operating costs. The Yorkshire, England-based maker of hard landscaping products says pretax profit falls 55% to GBP17.7 million in 2025 from GBP39.4 million in 2024. Revenue climbs 2.1% to GBP632.1 million from GBP619.2 million, but net operating costs grow 6.2% to GBP600.1 million from GBP565.3 million. Marshalls says adjusted pretax profit falls 16% to GBP43.7 million from GBP52.2 million. The firm says the Landscaping Products improvement plan delivers higher volumes and market share gains despite subdued end markets, but is offset by price investment and a weaker product mix. Marshalls lowers the final dividend by 17% to 4.5 pence per share from 5.4p. The total dividend for the year is 6.7p, down 16% from 8.0p. The firm says market activity levels in the first two months of 2026 are consistent with the end of 2025, but were affected by "persistent rainfall". Marshalls says it is mindful of the conflict in the Middle East. "However, in the absence of clarity on the impact of the conflict on our end markets and cost base, our expectations for the year remain unchanged and the board is confident of driving a material increase in profitability and returns over the medium-term," it adds. Chief Executive Officer Simon Bourne says: "Our strategic direction remains unchanged, and our immediate focus is on executing against our plan with greater discipline, in order to deliver sustainable, profitable growth over the medium term."
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Allianz Technology Trust says its return outperforms the benchmark index in 2025. The London-based investor in medium to large-scale tech companies says its net asset value per share rises 25% to 571.7 pence at the end of 2025 from 458.6p a year prior. The trust says its absolute return of 25% is higher than its benchmark, the Dow Jones world technology index, which climbs 20% over the period. "2025 saw its fair share of volatility resulting from the febrile global geopolitical backdrop and sporadic bouts of nervousness surrounding the valuations of the listed technology companies the trust invests in. Nonetheless, it has been a positive year for us, and one that I am happy to be reporting on," says Chair Tim Scholefield. Looking ahead, the chair says "we are very likely to see ongoing volatility".
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OTHER COMPANIES
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CRH says it plans to delist from the London Stock Exchange. The Dublin-based provider of building materials notes that its primary listing has been on the New York Stock Exchange since September 2023. It plans to delist from the LSE and, subject to shareholder approval, cancel its 5% and 7% preference shares. Once the delisting takes effect, CRH's shares will be solely listed on the NYSE. Back in February, CRH says it intends to review its LSE ordinary share listing as well as its preference share capital structure. As part of the review, CRH says it considered the level of trading activity for its shares on the LSE as well as "the additional cost, regulatory and administrative obligations arising from retaining the LSE listings and maintaining the 5% and 7% preference shares". CRH expects the LSE delisting to become effective on April 20, so the last day of trading on the LSE will be April 17. CRH also proposes the cancellation of its two classes of preference shares, which are the 7% preference shares on the LSE and the 5% preference shares on Euronext Growth Dublin. The preference shares have a total par value of around EUR1.2 million. The proposed cancellations would be in exchange for a cash payment of 40 times the annual dividend per preference share.
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By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter
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Related Shares:
ReckittNational GridStandard LifeSegroMarshallsAllianz Technology TrustCRH