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The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Wednesday. ---------- FTSE 100 winners ---------- DCC PLC, up 14% at 6,107.50 pence, receives takeover approach from US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Croda International PLC, up 1.3% at 2,873.00p Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC, up 1.3% at 604.00p Babcock International Group PLC, up 1.1% at 1,109.00p Mondi PLC, up 0.9% at 743.70p ---------- FTSE 100 losers ---------- St James’s Place PLC, down 4.4% at 1,199.25p, funds under management decline on-quarter Next PLC, down 2.8% at 12,972.50p, BofA cuts price target to 14,400p Haleon PLC, down 2.6% at 341.80p, first-quarter sales held back by weak US cold season Burberry Group PLC, down 2.5% at 1,141.50p Airtel Africa PLC, down 2.2% at 211.30p ---------- FTSE 250 winners ---------- Ceres Power Holdings PLC, up 18% at 586.75 pence, continues rally, shares up 92% over the past month; Goldman Sachs hikes price target to 670p from 530p Breedon Group PLC, up 2.9% at 314.80p, first-quarter trading in line with expectations Helios Towers PLC, up 2.7% at 198.20p WPP Group PLC, up 2.6% at 265.00p, on Tuesday backs outlook after expected decline in first-quarter revenue Tate & Lyle PLC, up 2.5% at 364.80p ---------- FTSE 250 losers ---------- B&M European Value Retail SA, down 3.8% at 167.40p THG PLC, down 2.3% at 32.17p Telecom Plus PLC, down 2.3% at 1,153.00p, on Tuesday says full-year profit will be at low-end of prior guidance Grainger PLC, down 2.0% at 161.00p SSP Group PLC, down 1.9% at 163.90p ---------- FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus: ---------- DCC PLC, up 14% at 6,107.50 pence, 12-month range 4,188.00p-6,265.00p. Confirms it is evaluating a potential takeover approach from US investment firms Energy Capital Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Says it received an indicative all-cash proposal on Wednesday and is assessing the offer with its financial advisers, following recent market speculation. Adds there is no certainty that any firm offer will be made and urges shareholders to take no action at this stage. Under UK takeover rules, the bidders have until June 10 to either announce a firm intention to make an offer or walk away. ---------- St James’s Place PLC, down 4.4% at 1,199.25 pence, 12-month range 932.60p-1,575.50p. Receives £1.53 billion in net inflows in the first quarter of 2026, down slightly from £1.69 billion a year before. Funds under management total £216.94 billion on March 31, up from £188.59 billion a year before, though down from £220.01 on December 31. Net investment return is negative £4.60 billion in the first quarter, compared to negative £3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2025. ---------- Haleon PLC, down 2.6% at 341.80 pence, 12-month range 274.40p-419.50p. Reports broadly flat first-quarter revenue and reiterates its full-year growth outlook, as a weak flu season weighs on performance. Revenue rises 0.1% to £2.86 billion, with organic growth of 2.2%, slowing from 3.5% a year earlier due to a weak cold and flu season impacting key categories. Says North America posts 1.0% organic growth, though reported revenue falls 4.9% to £932 million. ---------- Lloyds Banking Group , down 1.4% at 97.18 pence, 12-month range 69.70p-114.60p. Nudges up full-year net interest income guidance after reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit. Pretax profit rises 33% to £2.03 billion, while net income increases 9.1% to £4.79 billion, driven by higher income, controlled costs and benign impairments. Underlying profit climbs 31% to £2.01 billion, ahead of consensus, with net interest income up 8.5% to £3.57 billion and margin improving to 3.17%. The bank does not expect a rate cut in the UK this year and pencils in one quarter-point reduction by the end of 2027. ‘Increases in energy prices lead to the re-emergence of inflationary pressures, with reductions in UK Bank Rate expected to be delayed until 2027,’ Lloyds says. ---------- AstraZeneca PLC, down 1.5% at 13,694.00 pence, 12-month range 9,651.00p-15,732.00p. Reports better-than-expected first-quarter revenue and profit, supported by strong growth in key drug segments. Pretax profit rises 15% to $3.91 billion, while revenue increases 13% to $15.29 billion, both ahead of consensus. Core operating profit climbs 11% to $5.35 billion, beating forecasts. Says performance is driven by double-digit growth in Oncology and Rare Disease, alongside continued progress in its pipeline, with multiple positive trial results and regulatory approvals. Highlights 14 approvals in major markets since the fourth quarter, underlining the strength of its development pipeline. ---------- Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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