George Frangeskides, Exec-Chair at Alba Mineral Resources, discusses grades at the Clogau Gold Mine. Watch the full video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE
Stefan Bernstein explains how the EU/Greenland critical raw materials partnership benefits GreenRoc
Stefan Bernstein explains how the EU/Greenland critical raw materials partnership benefits GreenRocView Video
Utilico Insights - Jacqueline Broers assesses why Vietnam could be the darling of Asia for investors
Utilico Insights - Jacqueline Broers assesses why Vietnam could be the darling of Asia for investorsView Video

Latest Share Chat

Pin to quick picksBHP Group Share News (BHP)

Share Price Information for BHP Group (BHP)

London Stock Exchange
Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
Share Price: 2,275.00
Bid: 2,278.00
Ask: 2,278.50
Change: 0.00 (0.00%)
Spread: 0.50 (0.022%)
Open: 0.00
High: 0.00
Low: 0.00
Prev. Close: 2,275.00
BHP Live PriceLast checked at -

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Halma rises after raising annual profit guidance

Wed, 24th Mar 2021 09:09

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened lower on Wednesday on fears that lockdowns in Europe will stifle economic recovery, while Halma bucked the trend after lifting profit guidance.

Europe's two biggest economies, Germany and France, as well as a number of other countries, have been forced to reimpose more stringent restrictions to battle the spread of Covid-19, at the same time as they struggle to get their vaccination programmes off the ground.

The FTSE 100 index was down 32.37 points, or 0.5%, at 6,666.82. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was down 66.08 points, or 0.3%, at 21,266.45. The AIM All-Share index was 0.1% lower at 1,198.89.

The Cboe UK 100 index was down 0.6% at 664.32. The Cboe 250 was down 0.5% at 18,905.66, and the Cboe Small Companies down 0.1% at 13,726.44.

In mainland Europe, the CAC 40 in Paris was 0.5% lower, while the DAX 30 in Frankfurt was down 0.7%.

In Asia, the Japanese Nikkei 225 index closed down 2.0%. In China, the Shanghai Composite ended down 1.3%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong finished down 2.1%.

Hong Kong shares closed with hefty losses Wednesday after the city had halted its Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine rollout over a packaging problem, hitting its already slow inoculation programme.

In the FTSE 100, Halma was the best performer, up 3.0%, after the hazard detection and life protection firm raised its annual profit guidance.

Halma said it has made good progress in the second half of the financial year and now expects adjusted pretax profit for financial 2021 to be similar to levels in financial 2020, compared to prior guidance of around 5% below the prior year. It posted adjusted pretax profit of GBP267.0 million in financial 2020.

At the other end of the large-caps, HSBC was the worst performer, down 1.7%, tracking falls in Asia. The stock had closed down 2.2% in Hong Kong.

BHP Group was 0.9% lower after Morgan Stanley downgraded the Anglo-Australian miner to Equal Weight from Overweight.

In the FTSE 250, Softcat was the standout performer, up 13%, after the IT infrastructure provider delivered a strong performance in the first half of the financial year.

For the six months to January 31, revenue was GBP577.0 million, up 10% from GBP524.1 million the same time the year before, pretax profit rose 41% to GBP57 million from GBP40.5 million.

Softcat declared an interim dividend 6.4 pence, up from 5.4p.

Looking ahead, Softcat said the second half has begun well, and it is confident it will deliver a full-year result significantly ahead of previous expectations.

At the other end of the midcaps, Cineworld was the worst performer, down 6.3%, after Walt Disney Co confirmed late Tuesday that it will be releasing several of its upcoming big-name movies on its streaming service Disney+ over the next few months, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty over cinema reopening worldwide.

Disney said the long-awaited Black Widow movie will launch on the streaming service alongside a theatrical release in July. In addition, Pixar's next movie Luca will stream exclusively on Disney+ in June. Walt Disney closed 2.1% lower in New York on Tuesday.

Bellway was 1.9% lower in London on Wednesday. The housebuilder said it delivered a good first-half trading performance, achieving record interim revenue due to its strong brought forward sales position, alongside strong customer demand.

For the six months to January 31, Bellway posted revenue of GBP1.72 billion, up 12% from GBP1.54 billion the year before, but pretax profit was GBP280.2 million, down 4.0% from GBP291.8 million.

Bellway said its forward order book on March 14 was GBP1.64 billion, up 8.4% from GBP1.52 billion at the same time the year before. It also expects the full-year average selling price to rise to GBP295,000 from GBP293,054.

In addition, Bellway reinstated its interim dividend at 35.0 pence per share, having made no interim payout last year.

The pound was quoted at USD1.3694 early Wednesday, down sharply from USD1.3778 at the London equities close Tuesday - trading at its lowest levels since early February.

UK inflation eased annually in February with the country in lockdown, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.

On an annual basis, UK consumer prices rose 0.4% in February, slowing from a rise of 0.7% in January. The reading missed market consensus, cited by FXStreet, for an 0.8% increase.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.1% in February, rebounding from deflation of 0.2% in January. However, the figure missed the consensus estimate for an 0.5% rise.

At its policy meeting last week, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee said it "does not intend to tighten monetary policy at least until there is clear evidence that significant progress is being made in eliminating spare capacity and achieving the 2.0% inflation target sustainably".

Beaufort Investment Chief Executive Officer Derrick Dunne commented: "While today's fall shows the precarious nature of the recovery from the pandemic, the longer-term outlook isn't looking very rosy for those with lots of savings in cash. Inflation eats away at the real value of savings when it is higher than the interest rate - which is particularly worrying with experts predicting inflation could peak at 2.5% when lockdown restrictions ease.

"Though it's expected The Bank of England will adjust the base rate to offset rising inflation over the coming months, exploring different types of investment which do well in an inflationary environment would be a good idea for those who want to safeguard their savings over the long-term."

The euro was priced at USD1.1820, lower from USD1.1861. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JPY108.62, marginally lower from JPY108.67.

Brent oil was quoted at USD61.00 a barrel Wednesday morning, sharply lower against USD62.09 at the London equities close Tuesday. Gold was trading at USD1,730.15 an ounce, higher from USD1,727.16.

The economic events calendar on Wednesday has PMI readings from the UK at 0930 GMT, while there is the same from the US at 1345 GMT.

By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

More News
28 Mar 2024 06:55

IN BRIEF: Ian Cockerill to retire from BHP board, Don Lindsay elected

BHP Group Ltd - Melbourne, Australia-based miner - Says Non-Executive Director Ian Cockerill will retire on Thursday next week. Cockerill joined the board in April 2019. Appoints Don Lindsay as a non-executive director, with effect from May 1. Lindsay is the former chief executive officer of Teck Resources Ltd. He is chair of Manulife Financial Corp. The board changes come shortly after the miner chose Ross McEwan as a non-executive director, starting next Wednesday. McEwan is the chief executive officer of National Bank of Australia Ltd. He will retire as the CEO of NAB, effective from July 1.

Read more
27 Mar 2024 09:40

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Sainsbury's, Petershill Partners upped to 'buy'

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Wednesday morning and Tuesday:

Read more
21 Mar 2024 15:00

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

Friday 22 March 
easyJet PLCdividend payment date
FRP Advisory Group PLCdividend payment date
Gulf Investment Fund PLCdividend payment date
Henderson Opportunities Trust PLCdividend payment date
Hercules Site Services PLCdividend payment date
Impax Asset Management Group PLCdividend payment date
JLEN Environmental Assets Group Ltddividend payment date
JPMorgan Multi-Asset Growth & Income PLCdividend payment date
Mattioli Woods PLCdividend payment date
Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT PLCdividend payment date
Mobeus Income & Growth 4 VCT PLCdividend payment date
Ramsdens Holdings PLCdividend payment date
Riverstone Credit Opportunities Income PLCdividend payment date
Ruffer Investment Co Ltddividend payment date
Samuel Heath & Sons PLCdividend payment date
Troy Income & Growth Trust PLCdividend payment date
Unilever PLCdividend payment date
Monday 25 March 
AstraZeneca PLCdividend payment date
Endeavour Mining PLCdividend payment date
Mountview Estates PLCdividend payment date
Shell PLCdividend payment date
Tuesday 26 March 
no events scheduled 
Wednesday 27 March 
abrdn Diversified Income & Growth PLCdividend payment date
Thursday 28 March 
Alliance Trust PLCdividend payment date
Balanced Commercial Property Trust Ltddividend payment date
Berkeley Group Holdings PLCdividend payment date
BHP Group Ltddividend payment date
BlackRock Energy & Resources Inc Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
BlackRock Throgmorton Trust PLCdividend payment date
BP PLCdividend payment date
City of London Investment Group PLCdividend payment date
Crown Place VCT PLCdividend payment date
CT UK Capital & Income Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Develop North PLCdividend payment date
Diversified Energy Co PLCdividend payment date
Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLCdividend payment date
Gateley Holdings PLCdividend payment date
Genus PLCdividend payment date
Hargreaves Lansdown PLCdividend payment date
HICL Infrastructure PLCdividend payment date
Idox PLCex-dividend payment date
Imperial Brands PLCdividend payment date
Melrose Industries PLCex-dividend payment date
Mid Wynd International Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Moneysupermarket.com Group PLCex-dividend payment date
NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltddividend payment date
North Atlantic Smaller Cos Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Personal Group Holdings PLCex-dividend payment date
Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust PLCdividend payment date
Quartix Technologies PLCex-dividend payment date
Renewables Infrastructure Group Ltddividend payment date
Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltddividend payment date
SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust PLCdividend payment date
Smith & Nephew PLCex-dividend payment date
Taylor Wimpey PLCex-dividend payment date
Thames Ventures VCT 2 DSO 1 D PLCdividend payment date
Travis Perkins PLCex-dividend payment date
Utilico Emerging Markets Trust PLCdividend payment date
Vaalco Energy Incdividend payment date
Value & Indexed Property Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities PLCdividend payment date
Volution Group PLCex-dividend payment date
Wynnstay Group PLCex-dividend payment date
  
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
  
A full 14-day events calendar is provided each day with a subscription to Alliance News UK Professional.
  
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Read more
1 Mar 2024 08:15

IN BRIEF: National Bank of Australia CEO Ross McEwan to join BHP board

BHP Group Ltd - Melbourne, Australia-based miner - Appoints Ross McEwan as a non-executive director, starting April 3. McEwan is the chief executive officer of National Bank of Australia Ltd. He will retire as the CEO of NAB, effective from July 1. McEwan also joins Farnborough, Hampshire-based defence technology firm QinetiQ Group PLC as non-executive director from Friday. He served as CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, now named NatWest Group PLC, from 2013 to 2019.

Read more
29 Feb 2024 16:06

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

Friday 1 March 
AEW UK REIT PLCdividend payment date
Alternative Income REIT PLCdividend payment date
Atrato Onsite Energy PLCdividend payment date
Carr's Group PLCdividend payment date
CC Japan Income & Growth Trust PLCdividend payment date
CVC Income & Growth Ltd (EUR)dividend payment date
CVC Income & Growth Ltd (GBP)dividend payment date
Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust PLCdividend payment date
ICG Enterprise Trust PLCdividend payment date
IG Group Holdings PLCdividend payment date
JPMorgan China Growth & Income PLCdividend payment date
JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
LXi REIT PLCdividend payment date
Pollen Street PLCdividend payment date
TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Ltddividend payment date
UK Commercial Property REIT Ltddividend payment date
Monday 4 March 
no events scheduled 
Tuesday 5 March 
Henderson Smaller Cos Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
PayPoint PLCdividend payment date
Wednesday 6 March 
AB Dynamics PLCdividend payment date
Thursday 7 March 
abrdn Diversified Income & Growth PLCex-dividend payment date
Assura PLCex-dividend payment date
Athelney Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Berkeley Group Holdings PLCex-dividend payment date
BHP Group Ltdex-dividend payment date
Chenavari Toro Income Fund Ltddividend payment date
Colefax Group PLCex-dividend payment date
Crown Place VCT PLCex-dividend payment date
CT UK Capital & Income Investment Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Energean PLCex-dividend payment date
HSBC Holdings PLCex-dividend payment date
JPMorgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
JPMorgan Global Growth & Income PLCex-dividend payment date
Law Debenture Corp PLCex-dividend payment date
Mid Wynd International Investment Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Personal Assets Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
PZ Cussons PLCex-dividend payment date
Redcentric PLCex-dividend payment date
Renishaw PLCex-dividend payment date
Rights & Issues Investment Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Rio Tinto PLCex-dividend payment date
Ruffer Investment Co Ltdex-dividend payment date
Safestore Holdings PLCex-dividend payment date
Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltdex-dividend payment date
SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
South32 Ltdex-dividend payment date
Standard Chartered PLCex-dividend payment date
Temple Bar Investment Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Utilico Emerging Markets Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Vaalco Energy Incex-dividend payment date
  
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
  
A full 14-day events calendar is provided each day with a subscription to Alliance News UK Professional.
  
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Read more
29 Feb 2024 09:18

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Barclays cuts Direct Line to equal weight

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Thursday morning:

Read more
22 Feb 2024 09:55

TOP NEWS: Indivior swings to profit as eyes primary listing move to US

(Alliance News) - Shares in Indivior PLC rose on Thursday, after the company said that strong sales of its flagship Sublocade treatment had pushed its revenue to new heights, and it added that it will begin talks with shareholders to move its primary listing across the Atlantic.

Read more
21 Feb 2024 11:17

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Unilever and Aviva both raised to 'buy'

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Wednesday morning and Tuesday:

Read more
20 Feb 2024 15:29

London close: Stocks finish lower on fresh China concerns

(Sharecast News) - London's stock markets closed in negative territory on Tuesday, with concerns over China's economic prospects exerting pressure on mining shares.

Read more
20 Feb 2024 11:20

London midday: Stocks mixed after China makes bigger rate cut

(Sharecast News) - London's stocks were in a mixed state at midday on Tuesday, as concerns around China's economic outlook continued to weigh on mining stocks.

Read more
20 Feb 2024 07:47

LONDON BRIEFING: Barclays announces GBP1b buyback as 2023 profit falls

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are called lower on Tuesday, following a US holiday, and a mixed performance in Asian markets.

Read more
20 Feb 2024 06:55

LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: FTSE to edge lower after US holiday

(Alliance News) - Stocks in London are set to drift lower on Tuesday, amid muted trade in Asian markets, with no direction from Wall Street given the US public holiday on Monday.

Read more
20 Feb 2024 06:10

TOP NEWS: BHP half-year profit dives 86% on impairment charges

(Alliance News) - BHP Group Ltd on Tuesday reported a slump in interim profit, after its half-year was stung by an impairment of its nickel assets, and a charge related to the Brazilian dam incident in 2015.

Read more
16 Feb 2024 09:51

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Barclays starts Dowlais at 'overweight'

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Friday morning and Thursday:

Read more
15 Feb 2024 14:42

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

Friday 16 February 
NatWest Group PLCFull Year Results
Segro PLCFull Year Results
TBC Bank Group PLCFull Year Results
Monday 19 February 
Bank of Cyprus Holdings PLCFull Year Results
MoneySupermarket.com PLCFull Year Results
Transense Technologies PLCHalf Year Results
Wilmington PLCHalf Year Results
Tuesday 20 February 
Antofagasta PLCFull Year Results
Barclays PLCFull Year Results
BHP Group LtdHalf Year Results
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLCFull Year Results
Gran Tierra Energy IncFull Year Results
InterContinental Hotels Group PLCFull Year Results
Petra Diamonds LtdHalf Year Results
Springfield Properties PLCHalf Year Results
Wednesday 21 February 
BAE Systems PLCFull Year Results
Conduit Holdings LtdFull Year Results
Glencore PLCFull Year Results
HSBC Holdings PLCFull Year Results
Rio Tinto PLCFull Year Results
Riverstone Credit Opportunities Income PLCFull Year Results
Tate & Lyle PLCTrading Statement
Thursday 22 February 
Anglo American PLCFull Year Results
Genus PLCHalf Year Results
Hargreaves Lansdown PLCHalf Year Results
Hays PLCHalf Year Results
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLCFull Year Results
Indivior PLCFull Year Results
Jupiter Fund Management PLCFull Year Results
Lloyds Banking Group PLCFull Year Results
ME Group International PLCFull Year Results
Morgan Sindall Group PLCFull Year Results
Pantheon International PLCHalf Year Results
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLCFull Year Results
WPP PLCFull Year Results
  
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
  
A full 21-day events calendar is provided each day with a subscription to Alliance News UK Professional.
  
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.