Industrial engineer Weir Group topped the risers after delivering a better-than-expected first quarter from minerals, its largest division. However, the company did say it was "taking further action to support profitability" in its oil and gas division amid tough conditions. Shares of Intercontinent
Read moreBP smashed consensus forecasts with its first-quarter results on Tuesday, though analysts at UBS said that the read-through for future years is limited for the moment. The Swiss bank maintained a 'neutral' rating and 450p target price for the oil major, saying that changes to outer-year forecasts ar
Read more(Adds detail, background, shares) LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Next, Britain's second-largest clothing retailer, posted first-quarter sales slightly ahead of its own guidance on Wednesday, benefiting from the earlier launch of a summer catalogue and warmer weather. Shares in the firm
Read moreNext surpassed forecasts with its first-quarter sales update on Wednesday, though Investec maintained a 'hold' rating on the stock. The Anglo-South African bank said that the high street fashion and homeware retailer remains a "core holding" but pointed out that the stock is trading at 17 times curr
Read moreUK stocks opened flat on Wednesday morning as investors digested a barrage of blue-chip earnings and awaited a Federal Reserve policy decision in the US. The FTSE 100 was trading just 0.03% lower at 7,028.48 early on. The index had retreated on Tuesday to 7,030.53 after setting a new all-time closi
Read more** Next up 2.7 pct, top UK blue-chip riser & at a 2-wk high in strong volume ** Keeps annual profit forecast, Q1 sales slightly ahead of own guidance, to pay another special divi ** Despite underperformance YTD (up c.7 pct YTD vs c.16 pct rise from M&S ) Jefferies sees valuation as ri
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