UKX FTSE 100 Index

The FTSE 100 closed Wednesday down 0.43%, a relative outperformance compared to other markets thanks to a strong performance from healthcare stocks. Other European markets were on the back-foot after the latest China trade numbers for November saw both imports and exports plummet--but this was offset by strong gains from GSK PLC, Sanofi and Haleon PLC after a judge dismissed claims the Zantac drug caused cancer, CMC Markets UK chief market analyst Michael Hewson says in a research note. "With oil prices hitting their lowest levels this year, Shell PLC and BP PLC shares have been the main laggards on the FTSE 100, however the decline in energy prices also raises a wider question with respect to smaller energy producers in respect of the windfall tax," Hewson says.

 
Companies News: 

Mitchells & Butlers Swung to FY 2022 Pretax Profit, Sees Encouraging Year Ahead

Mitchells & Butlers PLC said Wednesday that pretax profit for fiscal 2022 rose, supported by a sales recovery to prepandemic levels, and that its performance in the new fiscal year has been positive.

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Naked Wines Swung to 1H Pretax Loss on Inventory Provisioning; CFO Appointed

Naked Wines PLC said Wednesday that it swung to a pretax loss for the first half of fiscal 2023 after it booked material inventory provisioning, and that it has appointed James Crawford as chief financial officer and executive director.

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Quiz Upbeat on FY 2023 as 1H Earnings Boosted by Strong Demand

Quiz PLC said Wednesday that it remains confident of meeting market expectations for the full fiscal year despite inflationary pressure, after revenue and earnings rose strongly in the first half.

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Topps Tiles Gets Request to Remove Chairman From Shareholder MS Galleon

Topps Tiles PLC said Wednesday that it has received a notice from 29.9% shareholder MS Galleon GmbH requesting that it put forward a resolution to remove nonexecutive Chairman Darren Shapland at the annual general meeting in January.

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Games Workshop Sees 1H Pretax Profit Fall, Appoints NonExecutive Chair

Games Workshop Group PLC said Wednesday that performance for the first half of fiscal 2023 has been in line with expectations, with pretax profit expected to fall despite increasing revenue.

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Redde Northgate 1H Pretax Profit Rose on Robust Demand, Fleet Growth

Redde Northgate PLC said Wednesday that pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2023 rose, supported by fleet growth and new contract wins, and that it expects its full-year performance to exceed market views.

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Moonpig 1H Pretax Profit Hit by Higher Costs, Cuts FY 2023 Revenue Guidance

Moonpig Group PLC said Wednesday that its pretax profit for first half of fiscal 2023 fell on higher costs, and cut its full-year revenue guidance after experiencing more challenging trading conditions since October.

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musicMagpie Sees FY 2022 in Line

musicMagpie PLC said Wednesday that financial performance for fiscal 2022 was in line with management's expectations.

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Sovereign Metals to Demerge Malawi Graphite Projects

Sovereign Metals Ltd. said Wednesday that it will demerge a number of graphite projects in Malawi into a wholly-owned subsidiary to unlock their value.

 
Market Talk: 

UK Builders Fall as Housing Market Slowdown Continues -- Market Talk

1117 GMT - U.K. house builders fall after industry data showed the British housing market continuing to slow last month. The average house price dropped 2.3% in November versus a 0.4% fall in October, and the annual growth rate slowed to 4.7% from 8.2% beforehand, according to the Halifax House Price Index. "When thinking about the future for house prices, it's important to remember the context of the last few years, when we witnessed some of the biggest house-price increases the market has ever seen. The market may now be going through a normalization process," director of Halifax Mortgages, Kim Kinnaird, writes. Persimmon is the sector's biggest top-flight faller, down 1%, while rivals also drop. (philip.waller@wsj.com)

Contact: London NewsPlus; paul.larkins@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 07, 2022 12:11 ET (17:11 GMT)

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