ECM.L Share News (ECM)

LONDON (Alliance News) - Stocks in London finished lower on Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 index slipping back below the 7,000 mark, as a US-China trade war flare-up and Brexit uncertainties continued to stifle market clarity for the pound.The FTSE 100 index closed down 0.8%, or 52.97 points at 6,967.92. The FTSE 250 down 0.9%, or 173.73 points at 18,366.36, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.1%, or 19.67 points, at 927.31.The Cboe UK 100 ended 0.5% lower at 11,826.64, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.5% at 16,568.83, and the Cboe Small Companies ended down 0.3% at 11,407.42.In European equities on Monday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended down 1.2%, and the DAX 30 in Frankfurt ended down 1.6%. "Investment sentiment has been slipping recently as worries about Italy, Brexit and US-China trade relationship have prompted traders to become risk-adverse. Today, we are seeing a wide-range sell-off as global sentiment has taken another turn for the worst," said CMC Markets analyst David Madden.Bank of England Governor Mark Carney backed UK Prime Minister Theresa May's EU withdrawal plans and warned a no-deal Brexit would be the "worst outcome".In a hearing with members of Parliament on the Treasury Select Committee, Carney said the central bank welcomes "the transition arrangements in the withdrawal agreement" and noted the "possibility of extending that transition period".Carney told MPs May's Brexit "supports economic outcomes" but warned a "no-deal, no-transition Brexit" would be the "worst outcome" for the bank.He said the risk of a no-deal was "uncomfortably high". He added a no-deal scenario was "not in the interests of either party". "There would be an economic shock in Europe as well, and particularly in Ireland," he warned.The transition period starts on March 29 and will end on December 31, 2020.Meanwhile, the leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned that the Conservatives will be stuck with Theresa May as leader for the next general election unless they move to get rid of her now.His warning came as Downing Street confirmed May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for talks in Brussels on Wednesday, ahead of a special EU Brexit summit on Sunday."I think it is now or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election," he told reporters at a Westminster news conference.The pound was quoted at USD1.2813 at the London equities close Tuesday, down compared to USD1.2843 at the close on Monday.Stocks in New York were sharply lower at the London equities close, with the Dow Jones down 1.6%, the S&P 500 index 1.2% lower, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.9%.The sell-off on Wall Street came amid lingering concerns about the outlook for the global economy along with uncertainty about the potential for a trade deal between the US and China.US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet at the G20 summit in Argentina later this month.In addition, iPhone maker Apple shares are in the red after Goldman Sachs trimmed its price target to USD182. It was the second price downgrade in one week, which underlines how nervous the bank are about the stock.Wall Street will have a shortened trading week, with markets closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving Day holiday and open for just a half-day on Friday.Turning to UK company news, Compass Group ended up 5.1%, the best blue-chip performer. The catering company reported revenue of GBP22.96 billion for the year ended September 30, up 1.7% from GBP22.57 billion a year ago.Geographically, North America saw sales up 7.8% to GBP13.79 billion, Europe increased by 2.1% to GBP5.78 billion and RoW was up 2.9% to GBP3.67 billion. Pretax profit fell 2.6% to GBP1.52 billion from GBP1.56 billion.Compass increased its payout to shareholders by 13% to 37.7p per share from 33.5p paid a year ago.Halma closed 2.8% higher after it hiked its interim dividend by 7.0% to 6.11 pence per share, as profit and revenue both hit record levels. For the six months ended September, pretax profit widened 23% to GBP94.5 million, after revenue rose 16% to GBP585.5 million. On an organic constant-currency basis revenue was up 14%.The result was helped by "robust" performances from all its four sectors and revenue growth in all regions. In particular, Halma emphasised the "very strong" performance in the US and "good growth" in the UK. Reckitt Benckiser finished up 1.6% after Exane BNP raised the hygiene and home products producer to Outperform from Neutral.The worst performing heavyweight stock was easyJet, down 6.3%. The budget airline reported strong annual results but also a 5.3% increase in the headline cost per seat excluding fuel to GBP43.4, mainly due to expansion into Tegel airport in Berlin, higher levels of disruption, and crew cost inflation.For the year to September 30, easyJet's pretax profit came in at GBP445 million, up from GBP385 million a year prior. This was on the back of revenue increasing by 17% year-on-year to GBP5.90 billion, with total revenue per seat up 6.4% to GBP61.94."The reported gap between revenue and cost per seat indicates a wafer thin margin which could be upset by any number of factors, including ones outside of the company's control, such as the oil price, industrial action and flight cancellations arising from adverse weather. This is quite apart from the airline trading rules which may fall out of Brexit," Interactive Investor Head of Markets Richard Hunter noted.BTG was at the top of the mid-cap index, closing up 34% at 826.00p, after Boston Scientific agreed to pay 840p cash for each BTG share under the terms of the acquisition agreement.US medical devices manufacturer Boston Scientific said it intends to acquire UK rival healthcare company BTG for GBP3.3 billion. The acquisition price represents a 37% premium the closing price of 615p per BTG share on Monday.BTG said its directors consider the Boston Scientific offer to be fair and reasonable and intend to recommend unanimously that BTG shareholders vote in favour of the merger agreement at a court meeting and general meeting.Spectris ended up 12% as its sales for the four months ended October grew 9% on a reported basis on the year prior. On a like-for-like basis, sales advanced 8% on the year before.The measuring devices maker said the like-for-like sales performance was helped by a particularly strong performance in Asia, where sales rose 16% on the year prior.In addition, Spectris's new chief executive, Andrew Heath, announced plans to tighten focus and operational performance at the firm.Also in the green, Telecom Plus ended 8.8% higher after its revenue for the half year to September 30 rose 4% to GBP311 million, with pretax profit up 1.2% to GBP19.3 million. Telecom Plus raised its dividend by 4.2% to 25p per share. Organic customer and service growth was ahead of expectations, UK-based multi-utility supplier said, with positive momentum. Customer numbers for the period were up by 10,479 - compared to a rise of 5,265 a year before - to 621,218. Total services supplied for the period rose by 86,372 - compared to 36,348 growth last year - to 2.4 million.On the bottom of the mid cap index ended Indivior, down 38%. The pharmaceutical company said it is "disappointed" that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the preliminary injunction against Dr Reddy's Laboratories.The injunction against Indian pharmaceutical company Dr Reddy's for the sale of its generic version of Sublingual film, used for the treatment of opioid addiction, was granted in July.Indivior said it will continue to "vigorously" pursue ongoing infringement cases against Dr Reddy's to protect its Suboxone Sublingual Film patent portfolio.CYBG was the second worst performer in FTSE 250, finishing down 16%. The Glasgow-headquartered lender swung to a loss of GBP164 million for the year ended September 30, compared with the pretax profit of GBP268 million reported the year prior.The swing to pretax loss was primarily attributed to GBP396 million in legacy conduct charges, up sharply from GBP58 million in the year ago period. PPI provision during 2018 financial year totalled GBP352 million, with GBP44 million for other legacy conduct issues. Electrocomponents finished down 7.0% after reporting its interim results in line with guidance, but below analysts expectations.For the six months ended September, pretax profit widened 23% to GBP93.0 million, after revenue rose 11% to GBP911.8 million. Shore Capital said it expected Electrocomponents to report revenue growth to GBP915 million.Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization came in at GBP104 million for the first half, down GBP2 million on analysts' estimates.Spirax-Sarco Engineering lost 5.1%, as RBC cut the pump manufacturer to Underperform from Outperform after the market close on Monday. In the commodities, Brent oil was quoted at USD63.33 a barrel at the London equities close Tuesday, down substantially from USD67.21 late Monday.Gold was quoted at USD1,223.60 an ounce at the London equities close Tuesday against USD1,222.37 at the close on Monday.In the corporate calendar on Wednesday are annual results from pub and hotel operator Marstons, food and beverage outlets operator SSP Group, and housebuilder Countryside Properties. There also will be half year results from waste management company Biffa, water company United Utilities and telecommunications firm TalkTalk Telecom Group. In the economic calendar on Wednesday has UK public sector net borrowings at 0930 GMT and US existing home sales at 1500 GMT. UK Prime Minister Theresa May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at 1630 GMT.