Marstons Share News (MARS)

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Wednesday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------ITV, up 5.9%. The broadcaster said its advertising revenue fall in the first half was less steep than expected due to strong viewership numbers for Love Island show. Advertising revenue slipped 4.6% to GBP849 million from GBP890 million a year ago, while non-advertising revenue was 6.1% lower at GBP900 million. Back in May, the company guided for a 6% decline in advertising revenue. ITV Studios revenue fell 5.6% to GBP758 million, while Broadcast & Online revenue decreased 5.2% to GBP991 million. "Online revenue grew strongly up 18% despite tough comparatives, with Love Island providing a strong finish to the half. This was reflected in better than expected total advertising revenue," said Chief Executive Carolyn McCall.----------Informa, up 5.2%. The events and publishing company reported sharp growth in interim profit and revenue following the completion of its Accelerated Integration Plan, which combined the portfolio of UBM with the company's own portfolio. In the six months to June 30, Informa recorded GBP232.8 million pretax profit, nearly double the GBP118.7 million reported the year before. Informa's revenue jumped 47% in the first half to GBP1.41 billion from GBP957.1 million the year before. "A year on from the acquisition of UBM, the enlarged Informa Group is performing to plan, delivering a further period of growth in revenue, adjusted operating profit, free cash flow and dividends," said Chief Executive Stephen Carter.----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Rio Tinto, down 4.2%. The miner was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral by Credit Suisse, while Liberum cut the stock to Hold from Buy.----------Croda International, down 3.4%. The specialty chemicals firm said pretax profit for the six months to June fell 2.7% to GBP166.2 million, with sales rising 1.7% to GBP714.7 million, amid a "favourable benefit" from the pound's weakness. On an adjusted basis, core business sales rose 2.4% at reported rates, but fell 0.4% at constant currency, to GBP657.9 million, while adjusted pretax profit was down 2.5% at reported currency and 3.5% constant to GBP170.6 million. Looking segmentally, Life Sciences grew revenue by 16% at reported rates and adjusted operating profit by 19%, reaching GBP184.3 million and GBP56.4 million respectively. Performance Technologies' revenue fell 3.9%, however, to GBP226.8 million, with adjusted operating profit down 11% to GBP40.8 million. Personal Care revenue declined by 0.4% to GBP246.8 million, and adjusted operating profit by 2.7% to GBP82.1 million. ----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------Drax Group, up 3.8%. The electrical power generation company hiked its payout after reporting a swing to profit in the first half of 2019. Drax said it swung to a pretax profit of GBP3.5 million in the six months to the end of June from GBP11.3 million loss reported a year earlier, as revenue increased 7.7% to GBP2.23 billion from GBP2.07 billion. "Drax Group has delivered strong profit and dividend growth in the first half of the year," said Chief Executive Will Gardiner. Looking ahead, Drax said it remains focused on opportunities to expand capacity and use a greater proportion of the very cheapest wood residues.----------QinetiQ Group, up 2.8%. The firm made a "good" start in the first quarter, with expectations remaining that the defence engineer will deliver mid-single-digit revenue growth for the full year. QinetiQ explained it delivered a "strong operational" performance across the group. Revenue under contract has grown to 85% of expected levels for the full year, up from 74% in April. For the full year ending March 2020, QinetiQ expects "mid-single-digit" growth to revenue from the GBP911.1 million reported the year prior. Meanwhile, margins are expected to remain "stable" meaning, operating profit progress is expected to continue.----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings, down 23%. The luxury car maker cut annual guidance due to a worsening trading environment. Aston Martin now sees 2019 wholesale sales at 6,300 to 6,500 vehicles, with the company describing this downgrade as "disappointing". Wholesale volumes in 2018 were 6,441, and it had previously guided for 2019 sales of 7,100 vehicles to 7,300 vehicles. For 2019, the company has guided for an adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation margin of around 20%, and an adjusted operating margin of approximately 8%. Capital expenditure guidance for 2019 has also been revised to GBP300 million. Before, the adjusted Ebitda margin was seen at 24%, the adjusted operating profit margin at 13%, and capex and research & development spend at between GBP320 million and GBP340 million. ----------Marston's, down 9.9%. The pub operator said it achieved growth in its pub and beer businesses despite recent sales falling on last year's comparative which featured the FIFA World Cup and warm weather. For the 42 weeks to July 20, the company said like-for-like managed and franchised pub sales rose by 0.5% but in the last 16 weeks, sales declined year-on-year. The company's Destination and Premium businesses like-for-like sales for the 42 weeks grew 0.1% year-on-year and in Taverns, like-for-like sales were 1.1% ahead of the same period in 2018. Its Beer Company had volumes in line with last year but performance over the last 16 weeks reflected weaker lager sales. This segment of the company is outperforming the rest of the market however, Marston's said. ----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Rockrose Energy shares more than doubled to 1,900.00 pence having been suspended in February at 815p. The firm was readmitted to trading after carrying out a reverse takeover of assets from Marathon Oil UK. The deal closed earlier in July and added 28.4 million barrels of oil equivalent to the company's proved and probable reserves.----------ASOS, up 2.5%. Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating on the online fashion retailer to Equal Weight from Underweight.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------Sopheon, down 15%. The software services provider said it expects half-year revenue to fall significantly. In the six months to June 30, Sopheon said it expects a revenue to fall 14% to USD13.7 million compared to USD15.9 million the year prior. The company said the delay of some sales licenses impacted its half year revenue. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation more than halved year-on-year to USD2.0 million from USD4.1 million. The company said that it still expects revenue for the full financial year to be similar to 2018's USD33.9 million.----------Petra Diamonds, down 12%. Berenberg downgraded the miner to Sell from Buy.----------