Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksRDSA.L Share News (RDSA)

  • There is currently no data for RDSA

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

FTSE edges down from 1-year high, earnings weigh

Thu, 28th Jul 2016 16:11

* FTSE 100 index down 0.4 pct at close

* Lloyds, Smith & Nephew, Shell among top losers

* Rolls-Royce jumps on positive outlook

* AstraZeneca closes at a record high (Adds detail and updates prices at close)

By Kit Rees and Atul Prakash

LONDON, July 28 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index dippedon Thursday after hitting a one-year high in the previoussession, with Lloyds, Smith & Nephew and Royal Dutch Shellfalling after poorly received trading updates.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was down 0.4 percent at6,721.06 points at its close.

The mid-cap index also fell 0.1 percent, weigheddown by a 24.7 percent slide in lender International PersonalFinance, which slumped after reporting a 29 percent fallin adjusted profit before tax.

The FTSE 100, whose international companies are less exposedto any weakness in the domestic economy arising from Brexit, isup 6 percent since the Brexit vote, while thedomestically-focused mid-cap index closed 0.6 percent below itspre-Brexit level.

"The FTSE 100 is seeing some weakness as earnings from someheavyweight companies have disappointed. Given the recent runhigher..., it would not be surprising to see a further pullbackin the next sessions," said Jawaid Afsar, senior trader atSecurequity.

But he said further rises could be on the cards, with 6,900a target in the next few weeks.

The biggest decliner was Lloyds Banking Group,which dropped 5.8 percent after saying that capital generationcould be lower as it steps up its cost cutting plans, withinvestors citing concerns about its ability to maintain itsdividend.

"Lloyds still has a robust capital position ... However,lower capital generation impinges on the bank's ability toreturn cash to shareholders," said Laith Khalaf, senior analystat Hargreaves Lansdown.

"Lloyds has increased its interim dividend significantly,but if the Brexit axe is to fall anywhere, it's likely to be onthe special dividend at the end of the year."

Shares in Smith & Nephew fell 5.6 percent afterEurope's biggest maker of artificial knees and hips said it wascontinuing to struggle with weak demand for its products inChina.

Royal Dutch Shell fell 2.9 percent after reportinga fall of more than 70 percent in quarterly profit, far worsethan analyst estimates.

The blue-chip FTSE index was underpinned by a sharp rally inthe shares of some companies following updates.

Engineering firm Rolls-Royce surged 13.5 percentafter reaffirming profit would improve in the second half of theyear. It also said its turnaround plan would deliver cost cutsat the top end of a guided range.

Likewise, pharma company AstraZeneca closed at arecord high, jumping more than 7 percent following a solid setof results.

Miner Anglo American was up 5.4 percent after sayingits net debt had fallen and that a cost-cutting and asset-salestrategy was on track. (Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

More News
16 Dec 2021 22:13

UPDATE 2-Royal Dutch Shell confirms delay in sale of Texas refinery to Mexico's Pemex

(Adds approval expected by Jan. 13)By Stefanie Eschenbacher and Erwin SebaMEXICO CITY/HOUSTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday confirmed a Reuters report that the sale of its controlling interest in a Texas refinery to Mexican stat...

Read more
16 Dec 2021 14:42

Latin American oil auctions kick off after two-year lull

* 11 firms registered to bid in Brazil's auction on Friday* Competition expected to be fiercest since 2018* Seven Latin American nations to hold auctions in 2022-2023By Marianna Parraga and Sabrina ValleHOUSTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Latin America's oil...

Read more
15 Dec 2021 12:16

Five companies seek to develop CO2 storage off Norway

OSLO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Five companies have applied to build carbon dioxide (CO2) storage on the Norwegian continental shelf, the country's oil and energy ministry said on Wednesday.The ministry proposed in September two offshore areas, one in th...

Read more
15 Dec 2021 10:10

UPDATE 2-FTSE dips as inflation surges to 10-year high

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)* IAG down on plans to cancel Air Europa acquisition* Rentokil falls for second day on M&A plans* Inflation jumped to 5.1% in Nov vs. 4.2% in...

Read more
15 Dec 2021 09:33

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: BofA starts Pod Point at Buy; Barclays cuts DCC

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: BofA starts Pod Point at Buy; Barclays cuts DCC

Read more
14 Dec 2021 09:40

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: JPMorgan raises Experian, cuts BAE Systems

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: JPMorgan raises Experian, cuts BAE Systems

Read more
13 Dec 2021 16:10

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

Read more
13 Dec 2021 11:48

Brazil's oil regulator approves Mero oilfield production agreement

SAO PAULO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras said on Monday that the country's oil regulator ANP has approved a production agreement for the Mero oilfield, deciding on which stake of its oil and gas output will be hold ...

Read more
13 Dec 2021 10:16

UPDATE 2-Energy, bank stocks drag London's FTSE 100; Omicron fears weigh

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)* Purplebricks plunges after delaying results* SThree drops as CEO steps down* FTSE 100 down 0.8%, FTSE 250 off 1.2% (Updates to close)By Ba...

Read more
13 Dec 2021 07:22

Qatar Energy acquires 17% stake in Shell-operated concessions in Egypt

DUBAI, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Qatar Energy will acquire a 17% stake in two Shell-operated concessions (Block 3 and Block 4) in Egypt's Red Sea region, Shell Egypt said on Monday.Shell will remain the main operator of the concessions, Shell Egypt's st...

Read more
12 Dec 2021 14:00

Activist group targets Exxon with shareholder climate resolution

* Follow This targets Exxon for first time* Dutch group also targets other energy companiesBy Ron Bousso and Sabrina ValleLONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Climate activist group Follow This targeted Exxon Mobil Corp with a shareholder resolution urging i...

Read more
10 Dec 2021 23:26

UPDATE 1-Shell restarting Louisiana refinery crude unit after repairs from Hurricane Ida -sources

(Adds no reply from company)HOUSTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell Plc was restarting on Friday the crude distillation unit (CDU) at its 230,811 barrel-per-day (bpd) Norco, Louisiana, refinery after completing repairs from Hurricane Ida, sa...

Read more
10 Dec 2021 20:44

Shell restarting Louisiana refinery crude unit after repairs from Hurricane Ida -sources

HOUSTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell Plc was restarting on Friday the crude distillation unit (CDU) at its 230,811 barrel-per-day (bpd) Norco, Louisiana, refinery after completing repairs from Hurricane Ida, said sources familiar with pl...

Read more
10 Dec 2021 16:57

Can we still be friends? Shell sends Dutch PM parting note

By Toby SterlingAMSTERDAM, Dec 10 (Reuters) - On the day that shareholders of Royal Dutch Shell PLC voted to move the company's headquarters to London https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/royal-dutch-shell-plc-shareholders-set-approve-move-london...

Read more
10 Dec 2021 15:29

Belarus oil firm cancels 2022 exports to Germany after EU sanctions - traders

MOSCOW, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Belarusian oil company Belorusneft has cancelled its 2022 export plans to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline following new European Union sanctions on the company, three traders familiar with the matter said on Friday.On ...

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.