Intertek Group Share News (ITRK)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Tuesday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------Standard Life Aberdeen, up 2.6%. The investment manager's shares were higher despite reporting a drop in first half earnings as net fund outflows continued. Standard Life Aberdeen recorded assets under management and administration from continuing operations of GBP610.10 billion as at June 30, down 2.6% from GBP626.50 billion as at December 31. Net fund outflows from continuing operations totalled GBP16.60 billion versus GBP12.40 billion outflows recorded in the comparative year ago period. Adjusted pretax profit from continuing operations - a key profit measure for the company - for the interim period totalled GBP311 million, down 12% than GBP355 million recorded a year ago. The drop was attributed to lower fee-based revenue, which reduced by 7% to GBP966 million. The company said continues to make good progress on its integration programme and is now targeting over GBP350 million in savings.----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Intertek, down 5.6%. The testing, inspection and certification services provider said it remains well positioned to deliver good organic revenue growth, moderate margin progression at constant currency and strong cash conversion for the full year after reporting a modest increase in interim profit. The company recorded pretax profit of GBP196.6 million for the six months to June 30, up from GBP190.6 million in the year ago period, on a revenue of GBP1.35 billion and GBP1.37 billion, respectively. The rise in profit was attributed to higher operating margins, which stood at 16.8% versus 16.3%, resulting from positive operating leverage, margin accretive divisional mix, portfolio review and margin accretive acquisitions. The slide in first half revenue was due to appreciation of sterling against most of the company's trading currencies. ----------Hargreaves Lansdown, down 3.4%. The fund supermarket's shares were lower despite reporting an increased annual profit due to more-active client share dealing, an increase in new business, and net asset growth. In its financial year ended June 30, the company recorded a GBP292.4 million pretax profit, up 10% from GBP265.8 million the year before. Hargreaves' total net revenue was GBP447.5 million, a 16% increase from GBP385.6 million a year before, and a strong contributor to profit. Total assets under administration at June end stood at GBP91.6 billion, a 16% increase from GBP79.2 billion the previous year. "Brexit is on the horizon and the prevailing political and economic turbulence is having an effect on investor confidence. However...I believe the strength and scale of our business means we can continue to develop our offering to the benefit of all our stakeholders in the future," said Hargreaves Chief Executive Chris Hill.----------Ocado Group, down 1.7%. Barclays downgraded the online grocer to Underweight from Equal Weight.----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------Ferrexpo, up 4.1%. JPMorgan upgraded the iron pellet producer to Overweight from Neutral. ----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Domino's Pizza, down 11%. The pizza chain's revenue climbed 23% in the first half of the year, helped by a good international performance, but costs associated with that international arm sent pretax profit down 9.7%. For the six months to July 1, Domino's Pizza posted revenue up to GBP259.1 million from GBP211.3 million year-on-year. Pretax profit fell to GBP41.7 from GBP46.2 reported a year ago as high wages in Norway hiked administrative costs to GBP52.7 million from GBP30.6 million year-on-year. In the UK, Domino's said that the trading environment "continues to be uncertain". The chain opened 22 new stores in the first-half taking the total number to 1,067. Domino's said it expects to open 60 more stores in the UK in 2018. ----------Ultra Electronics, down 9.7%. Kepler Cheuvreux downgraded the defence company to Hold from Buy.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Harvey Nash Group, up 17% at 130.15 pence. The recruiter said it has agreed a takeover by shareholder DBAY Advisors worth GBP98.7 million. The Power of Talent, which is a new entity set up by DBAY, has offered 130 pence per share for each Harvey Nash share, plus an interim dividend from Harvey Nash of 1.75p per share. This offer, Harvey Nash said, is a 92% premium to its closing price on March 6, 2017, the day before DBAY announced it had a significant holding in Harvey Nash. It currently has a 26% stake, making it the recruitment firm's biggest shareholder.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------Carclo, down 18%. Shares in the plastics supplier fell after medical devices manufacturer Consort Medical said it does not intend to make an offer for Carclo. "Further to meetings between Consort and Carclo, and after careful consideration, the board of Consort has determined that the proposed transaction would not deliver the required benefits in a reasonable timeframe and it is therefore not in the interests of its shareholders to continue with a non-binding proposal for Carclo," Consort said in a statement. In response to Consort's withdrawal, Carclo said it remains highly confident in its prospects and standalone strategy. Carclo earlier in July rejected an initial merger proposal from Consort Medical, which subsequently submitted a revised offer for Carclo. ----------