22nd Mar 2018 10:39
LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Thursday.----------
FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------
Reckitt Benckiser, up 6.0%. The household goods giant said it has ended talks with US firm Pfizer over a takeover of the latter's Consumer Healthcare business. "Our priority remains organic growth, including the completion of the integration of Mead Johnson Nutrition and creating further value from reorganising into two new business units - Health and Hygiene Home," Chief Executive Rakesh Kapoor said. "We always approach inorganic growth opportunities in a rigorous, disciplined, and financially responsible manner to ensure long term value creation for shareholders. Kapoor added "An acquisition for the whole Pfizer consumer health business did not fit our acquisition criteria and an acquisition of part of the business was not possible". On Wednesday, the Financial Times reported blue-chip pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is in "pole position" to snap up Pfizer's Consumer Healthcare business, beating the rival bid from Reckitt. Moreover, Societe Generale raised the stock to Buy from Hold. ----------
FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------
Micro Focus International, down 4.7%. Shares in the software firm were continuing to slide after it said on Monday its year-on-year revenue decline has been "greater than anticipated" since reporting its interim results in January. The firm saw its market value halve to
GBP4.00 billion, having stood at
GBP8.00 billion prior to Monday's announcement. Credit ratings agency Moody's also changed its ratings outlook on Micro Focus to negative from stable. The stock has fallen 53% over the past week and 63% so far in 2018.
Halma, down 3.5%. The health and safety sensor maker said it anticipates annual adjusted profit to be in line with market expectations, as it progresses well across all geographic regions. However, Halma also noted positive foreign exchange benefits have now reversed and now expects this to be neutral for the full year.
Schroders, down 2.5%,
SEGRO, down 2.2%,
Randgold Resources, down 2.1%. The stocks went ex-dividend meaning new buyers no longer qualify for the latest dividend payout. ----------
FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------
IG Group, 4.2%. The online trading company said it registered record quarterly revenue in the three months to February. Net trading revenue in the third quarter of its financial year rose 30% year-on-year to
GBP152.9 million, and was 13% higher than IG's previous quarterly record for net trading revenue of
GBP135.2 million, which it set in its current year's first quarter. IG said revenue in the period was boosted by high levels of client trading as well as an increase in the number of clients. Over-the-counter leveraged revenue per client of
GBP1,482 was 25% higher than the same quarter in the prior year, and the number of unique OTC leveraged clients was up 4% on the prior year. Cryptocurrency trading was 11% of total trading revenue, compared to 1% a year before. ----------
FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------
Ted Baker, down 7.4%. The high street fashion retailer hiked its dividend by 12% after reporting strong growth in full year revenue and profit, as it warned it is continuing to face challenging market conditions. For the year ended January 27, pretax profit rose 12% to
GBP68.8 million from
GBP61.3 million the year before. This was after revenue grew 11% to
GBP591.7 million from
GBP531.0 million the year before. However, Ted Baker noted it anticipates external trading conditions to remain challenging across global markets. "More cautious investors are clearly not prepared to look through this observation, for fear of it actually sugar-coating what could be a worsening in recent trading conditions," said Michael van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.
Centamin, down 4.1%, Meggitt, down 2.9%. The stocks went ex-dividend. ----------
MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------
Vipera, up 14% at 7.15p. The mobile payment developer said Sella Open Fintech Platform is considering making an offer for the company. Vipera said Sella Open Fintech has been formed by Italian firm Banca Sella Holding to be the holding company of a new fintech business, of which Vipera is intended to form "an important" part. The possible offer would be
7.50 pence per Vipera share in cash, valuing Vipera at
GBP24.0 million. The price, Vipera said, is a 20% premium to its closing price on Wednesday of 6.25p. Sella Open Fintech has until April 19 to make it clear whether it will put in a firm offer or not. ----------
MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------
Flybe Group, down 10%. Shares in the regional airline operator were lower after Stobart Group said it does not intend to make an offer for Flybe after its latest proposal was rejected by the firm. Flybe shares soared 36% on February 22 when Stobart - an infrastructure and support services firm - confirmed it was considering a bid for Flybe. On Thursday, Stobart said it had been "unable to reach agreement on satisfactory terms" with Flybe. This was after Flybe rejected its latest proposal and Stobart considered it not in the interest of shareholders to increase the bid. As a result, Stobart will not be making a offer for Flybe.----------
