Shares in crisis-hit NMC Health suspended February 27, 2020 Trading in NMC Health shares has been suspended this morning after the embattled hospital operator fired its chief executive and revealed $335m (£259m) of secret guarantees benefitting companies owned by two of its major shareholders. In addition to sacking boss Prasanth Manghat, leaving it with no executive board members, the company has also granted its [...]
Shares in aviation services company John Menzies slip on coronavirus profit warning February 27, 2020 Shares in aviation services company John Menzies fell more than six per cent this morning after it warned of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its business. “The outbreak and continued spread of Covid-19 [coronavirus] is having a direct impact on the operations of the group,” it told the stock exchange in a trading [...]
British American Tobacco boosts revenue to £25.8bn February 27, 2020 British American Tobacco today said its revenue rose nearly six per cent to £25.8bn last year. The tobacco giant reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of 323.8p, which was ahead of expectations and represented growth of 8.4 per cent at constant currency. Reported earnings per share was 12 per cent below Bloomberg’s consensus after a [...]
Aston Martin finance chief quits as firm falls to £100m loss February 27, 2020 Aston Martin fell to a loss of over £100m today as the luxury carmaker announced it would use 2020 to “reset” the business in order to compete in the supercar market. The firm said that the release of the new DBX and Valkyrie models, which are scheduled for the summer, would be critical to fulfilling [...]
RSA beats expectations on record year for underwriting profit February 27, 2020 RSA posted a record year for underwriting profit as the insurance giant beat analyst expectations for 2019 after restructuring its international business. The figures The British firm posted an operating profit of £656m, up from £517m in 2018 and ahead of forecasts of £644m. A record year for underwriting profit was the main driver of [...]
Topps Tiles shares plunge on half-year profit warning February 27, 2020 Topps Tiles issued a warning today that first half profit will fall “materially” below market expectations due to Brits dodging home improvement and a 2019 full of Brexit uncertainty. Shares plunged 25 per cent in early trading, after investors had expected a profit in the range of £13.5m to £14.5m. The home improvement retailer said [...]
Paddy Power owner Flutter’s profit falls on UK tax blow February 27, 2020 Betfair and Paddy Power owner Flutter posted tumbling 2019 profit today as UK gaming taxes and the firm’s increased investment in the US both took their toll. The figures Profit before tax plunged 38 per cent year on year to £136m despite a 14 per cent hike in revenue to £2.14bn. Earnings per share also [...]
National Express hails record year as firm posts £240m profit February 27, 2020 Coach operator National Express today said it had “beaten [its] expectations” as the firm announced a record year for revenue and profit in 2019. The figures Profit before tax rose 9.1 per cent over the year, from £220m in 2018 to £240m last year, as the firm reported growth in every one of its divisions. [...]
Persimmon CEO to depart after just 15 months in role February 27, 2020 Persimmon’s CEO signalled his intention to step down today just over a year after replacing the housebuilder’s former boss Jeff Fairburn, who left in 2018 amid outrage over a huge £75m bonus. Group chief executive Dave Jenkinson will depart “in due course”, he said today as Persimmon revealed a drop in 2019 profit as it [...]
Heathrow expansion: Court of Appeal set to decide on Khan’s challenge February 27, 2020 The Court of Appeal will deliver a verdict on Sadiq Khan’s challenge to a third Heathrow runway today. Khan teamed up with several local authorities, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Heathrow Hub, authors of a rival extension bid, to challenge the Department for Transport’s (DfT) 2018 policy statement outlining the project. Parliament backed the [...]
