UKX FTSE 100 Index

The FTSE 100 ended Friday up 0.04%, clawing back some minor gains after a broadly negative week. The index has seen its third overall weekly loss since the beginning of the year, as rate cut expectations being pushed back to the second half of the year hit European stocks, IG Group senior market analyst Axel Rudolph says in a research note. "Elevated tensions in the Middle East have led to a third straight day of gains for the oil price, whereas the gold price only rose marginally for a second consecutive day, as flight-to-quality flows into the precious metal abate and the greenback extends its gains," Rudolph says.

COMPANIES NEWS:

DFS Furniture Backs Profit Views Despite Weaker Demand

DFS Furniture backed its profit guidance for fiscal 2024, supported by market-share gains and cost-base improvements despite challenging conditions.

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Character Group Expects Profitability to Be in Line With Market Views

Character Group said it expects profitability to improve and be in line with market expectations for the fiscal year ending in August, although turnover remained flat for the first four months.

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Petershill Partners Guides for Stable 2024

Petershill Partners said assets under management rose slightly toward the end of 2023 and kept its expectations unchanged for 2024.

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Endeavour Mining Strips Ex-CEO of $29.1 Million

Endeavour Mining is docking its former Chief Executive Sebastien de Montessus of $29.1 million in remuneration, following his termination earlier this month.

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4imprint's Revenue, Profit to Beat Market Views

4imprint Group said it expects to beat expectations for pretax profit and revenue in 2023 after a strong financial performance.

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Big Technologies Expects Performance in Line With Views, Revenue to Drop

Big Technologies said that performance for 2023 has been in line with both board and market expectations, and that it expects sales this year to fall due to the end of a major contract.

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Wincanton Agrees to GBP566.9 Mln Takeover by Ceva Logistics UK Rose

Wincanton has agreed to a 566.9 million pound ($720.4 million) takeover by Ceva Logistics UK Rose, a company indirectly controlled by CMA CGM and its affiliates.

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Deliveroo Backs Guidance After Gross Transaction Value Growth

Deliveroo said fourth-quarter gross transaction value growth was in line with previous guidance and backed its full-year forecast.

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Custodian Property Income REIT Agrees on All-Share Merger With Abrdn Property Income Trust, Valuing It at GBP237 Mln

Custodian Property Income REIT has agreed to buy abrdn Property Income Trust through a recommended all-share merger valuing the acquiree at around 237 million pounds ($301.2 million).

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BAE-Backed Air Astana Confirms London Listing for February

Air Astana said it expects to list on the London stock exchange in February, in a move set to include the sale of stock held by BAE Systems, and that it will raise $120 million to support its growth strategy.

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires;

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 19, 2024 12:14 ET (17:14 GMT)

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