SSE Share News (SSE)

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Thursday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------SSE, up 1.8%. The utility reiterated its outlook for its year ending March 2020, despite lower-than-expected renewable energy output in the first three months of the financial period. The Scottish energy company also reconfirmed its intention to recommend a dividend of 80 pence for the year to March 2020, in line with the company's five-year dividend plan. In May, SSE said it expects financial 2020 adjusted operating profit to improve but to be impacted by the phasing of profit in regulated Electricity Networks and the hedging of renewable energy output at less than current market prices. Adjusted operating profit for financial 2019 was GBP1.14 billion. SSE's total energy customers fell in the June quarter to 5.71 million from 5.78 million as at March 31.----------Severn Trent, up 1.7%. UK water regulator Ofwat is targeting a GBP50 drop in annual water bills as well as a further GBP12 billion of investment into the water network. Unveiling its 2019 price review, which includes a "major" package of investment, Ofwat sees water companies investing GBP6 million a day over the next five years, which will help cut bills for customers by around GBP50 a year. Ofwat has reviewed 14 of the 17 UK water companies' future plans, and Severn Trent's were fast-tracked due to it being a "high-quality" plans.----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------InterContinental Hotels, down 1.6%. RBC cut its rating for the hotel operator to Underperform from Sector Perform----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------easyJet, up 3.5%. The budget airline said third quarter revenue rose year-on-year, partly due to the Easter period being in the second half of the current financial year. easyJet also announced it has poached the chief operating officer of rival Ryanair, Peter Bellew, to take on the same role at easyJet. easyJet reported total revenue for the third quarter ended June 30 of GBP1.76 billion, an 11% year-on-year rise. Ancillary revenue grew by 14% year-on-year to GBP374.0 million and passengers flown in the quarter rose to 26.4 million from 24.4 million a year before.----------Hochschild Mining, up 2.6%. The gold miner reported second-quarter output of 84,180 ounces of gold, which is 8.0% higher than the first quarter and 4.4% up year-on-year. For the first half, Hochschild's gold production rose 1.1% year-on-year to 161,160 ounces, and it has reiterated 2019 production and cost guidance. ----------Hilton Food Group, up 2.0%. The packaging firm said performance in the 28 weeks to July 14 has been in line with the board's expectations. Hilton made good progress in number of markets in Western Europe, and the Irish business also experienced top-line growth in the first half. In Central Europe, Hilton's performance continued in line with expectations the company saw strong double-digit growth Australia during the first half.----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Moneysupermarket.com Group, down 1.5%. The comparison site's revenue for the six months to June climbed 15% year-on-year to GBP199.4 million, an "encouraging" performance, driven by "exceptional" energy switching as well as the GBP40 million acquisition of Decision Tech in August 2018. This revenue growth helped pretax profit rise 17% on the year before to GBP60.4 million, and Moneysupermarket has boosted its interim payout by 5% to 3.10 pence a share. Looking ahead, Moneysupermarket is confident on meeting the market's expectations for 2019. ----------Greggs, down 1.5%. Peel Hunt has reduced the baker's rating to Reduce from Hold----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS----------Ei Group, up 38%. The pub operator has agreed to a GBP1.3 billion takeover by Stonegate Pub Co, the owner of the Slug & Lettuce chain, the former Enterprise Inns announced. Stonegate will pay 285 pence per Ei share, a 39% premium to Ei's closing price in London on Wednesday of 205.8p. The deal values Ei at GBP1.27 billion, implying an enterprise value of GBP2.97 billion when including debt. ----------7digital, up 38%. The firm's Chief Executive John Aalbers and Chief Financial Officer Julia Hubbard have left with immediate effect. Chief Operating Officer Paul Langworthy will become CEO, and Michael Juskiewicz will become CFO. The firm is in the final stages of securing financing which was required, with GBP4.5 million set to be raised in the coming week. Alongside other cost cuts, the departure of Aalbers and Hubbard will save GBP1 million a year.----------OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS----------ASOS, down 16%. The online clothing retailer cut profit expectations for its financial year after warehouses issues affected sales in Europe and the US, despite "robust growth" elsewhere. Total revenue for the four months to June, which includes not just retail sales but delivery fees and third-party income, rose 12% year-on-year to GBP919.8 million and total retail sales increased 11% to GBP894.0 million. The company said the overhaul of warehouse operations in Berlin and Atlanta due to be completed by the end of September hindered sales in the two regions. It now expects group sales growth in line with the year to date, which in the first ten months of its financial year ending August 31 grew 13%. ASOS now forecasts a pretax profit between GBP30.0 and GBP35.0 million, a sharp fall on financial 2018's GBP102.0 million. ----------