Yahoo Finance FTSE 100 Live: QinetiQ crashes, Domino’s Pizza earnings, Dunelm upbeat, Markets steady after Fed minutes
The steady week for the London market has continued as stronger mining and oil stocks keep the FTSE 100 index in positive territory.
September's US inflation figures and Federal Reserve minutes showing that policymakers are ready to taper vast economic support before the end of the year failed to unsettle Wall Street overnight. There's no let up in the current inflation pressures, however, with Brent crude oil and natural gas prices both creeping up.
In corporate news, Dunelm said recent sales growth had been encouraging as it stuck by the City's recent increase to profit forecasts, but shares in defence firm Qinetiq slumped 9% after US sales were hit by the transition to the Biden presidency and the end of counter-insurgency missions in Afghanistan.
FTSE 100 Live Thursday
Qinetiq shares slide on US pressure
Miners drive FTSE 100 higher
Hays cheers job market boom
FTSE closes strongly higher
17:25 , Oscar Williams-Grut
The FTSE has closed strongly higher, up 65 points or 0.9% at 7207. The index was powered higher by commodity stocks: BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, and Glencore were the four biggest risers, each with a gain of more than 3% on the day.
Miners are being powered higher by a boom in commodity prices, which means they will get more money for the stuff they dig out of the ground.
Emma Wall, head of investment analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: “China’s Producer Price Index, which tracks what manufacturers charge wholesalers, is up 10.7%, which is the highest it’s been since they began recording in the mid-90s. China has been experiencing power shortages, and there is a global commodities rally, meaning it is costing manufacturers a lot more to produce goods.”
That’s all from us today. Have a good evening and join us again on the blog tomorrow.
Inflation focus
07:37 , Graeme Evans
European stock markets are expected to open higher this morning following a steady performance by US and Asian markets overnight.
The focus continues to be on inflation after it emerged that headline US consumer prices rose by 0.4% on a monthly basis in September, the fifth time in the last seven months that the figure has come in above the median estimate.
Deutsche Bank's senior analyst Jim Reid said the CPI release only added to speculation that the Federal Reserve may be forced into hiking rates earlier than previously anticipated.
He added: “Investors are now pricing in almost four hikes by the end of 2023, which is over a full hike more than they were pricing in just a month earlier.”
The jitters were evident in markets overnight as the traditional inflation hedge of gold posted its strongest daily performance since March.
China bucked the inflation trend overnight with official figures showing a fall in the annual rate in September to 0.7% from 0.8%. This was offset, however, by a rise in the producer prices index to 10.7%, the highest since records began to show that inflationary pressures still persist in the China value chain.
Oil prices edged higher overnight to leave Brent crude futures at $83.73 and West Texas crude oil at $80.96.
The rise came despite OPEC’s monthly oil market report revising down its forecast for world oil demand this year. European natural gas prices were also up 9% as they continue to pare back some of the declines following Vladimir Putin's intervention last week.
According to CMC Markets, the FTSE 100 index is forecast to open 35 points higher at 7,176.
Wall Street earnings
07:50 , Graeme Evans
Banking giant JP Morgan Chase got Wall Street's third quarter earnings season off to a strong start yesterday when it delivered forecast-beating results, driven by the recent boom in M&A activity and release of more loan loss reserves.
Net income rose 24% to $11.7 billion, aided by a 30% rise in revenues at its investment banking and markets division.
Chief executive Jamie Dimon said: “JPMorgan Chase delivered strong results as the economy continues to show good growth - despite the dampening effect of the Delta variant and supply chain disruptions.”
The shares have risen by 28% so far this year, but closed yesterday more than 2% cheaper amid a weaker performance across the banking sector.
Bank of America, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley are due to post their results later today.
Stelrad confirms float plan
08:05 , Graeme Evans
A difficult start to trading for Czech trucking services firm Eurowag and the decision of roofing tiles business Marley to postpone its float due to market volatility has shaken the outlook for initial public offerings (IPOs) in recent days.
Radiators firm Stelrad defied these jitters today to confirm its £350 million London float will go ahead next month, saying the “interest we’ve received from potential investors has been significant”.
Rubix, whose products help to keep the factories and plants of some of Europe's largest industrial companies up and running, also announced it is considering an IPO on London's main market.
Slow recovery for motor insurer
08:31 , Graeme Evans
Sabre Insurance, which sells policies through brokers and its direct brands Go Girl and Insure 2 Drive, said the recovery in motor insurance pricing has been slightly slower than it expected as Covid-related restrictions unwind.
Its business is heavily focused towards new business and new drivers, so the backlog of driving tests and significant delays in new car registrations haven’t helped.
Sabre said: “We have chosen not to engage in inappropriate price discounting to chase volume during this period, instead maintaining pricing discipline in order to preserve the strength of the business across the medium-term.”
It expects prices to pick up over the coming year as Covid discounts applied to policies for periods of reduced traffic unwind and as the industry responds to a significant period of cost inflation. Sabre's shares fell 2p to 193p in the FTSE All-Share.
FTSE 100 higher, Qinetiq slides
08:45 , Graeme Evans
The FTSE 100 index is 37.86 higher at 7,179.68 amid a strong session for mining stocks, with Anglo American and Glencore setting the fastest pace after gains of more than 2%.
The domestic-focused FTSE 250 index improved 150.18 points to 22,785.45, led by former Premier Oil business Harbour Energy after oil prices edged up overnight.
Electronics firm discoverIE was also 5% higher following a better-than-expected trading update.
Shares in defence specialist Qinetiq skidded 9%, however, as it revealed its performance in US Global Products has been affected by the transition to the Biden presidency and shift in priorities from counter-insurgency missions in Afghanistan to threats in the Indo-Pacific.
Recruitment group Hays cheers hot jobs market
08:58 , Joanna Bourke
The permanent recruitment market is the “hottest” it has been in the UK since 2007, with salary rises of up to 20% in some in-demand sectors, the finance chief of headhunters giant Hays has said.
Paul Venables told the Evening Standard: “For most companies the sheer scale and speed of recovery post-pandemic has been much better than they could have expected.”
Read the full story HERE.
Qinetiq warning
09:24 , Graeme Evans
Former MoD research arm Qinetiq sent its shares 9% lower today as it revealed that it is experiencing technical and supply chain issues on a large complex programme.
The defence and security specialist, which generates a third of its revenues outside the UK, is now working with the unnamed customer and supply chain partners in an effort to mitigate the risk to less than £15 million.
It has also been hit in the US by the transition to the Biden presidency and end of the country’s counter-insurgency missions in Afghanistan, plus Covid-related delivery and supply chain challenges.
Hampshire-based Qinetiq, which was formed in 2001, now expects an underlying operating profit margin at the lower end of its 11-12% expected range. It is also braced for a potential write-down to guidance on the large complex programme.
Chief executive Steve Wadey remains confident in medium term prospects, however, after generating “excellent” order intake and a range of significant contract wins.
Commodities surge boosts FTSE 100
10:38 , Graeme Evans
A familiar story of a surging copper price and multi-year high for oil ensured heavyweight commodity stocks kept the recent recovery for the FTSE 100 index ticking over today.
Markets have shaken off their jitters thanks to a week without major economic shocks, with US and China inflation figures and guidance from the Federal Reserve about the potential November start for tapering containing few surprises.
The FTSE 100 index rose 53.89 points to 7195.73, driven by miners as a weaker US dollar and economic resilience pushed up metal prices. Gains for copper and iron ore over the past week now stand at 7%, while Brent crude added 1% overnight at above $84 a barrel.
The gains reverse recent fears over the faltering pace of economic growth in China and the potential fallout should property giant Evergrande collapse.
AJ Bell's investment director Russ Mould said: “A slowdown in the global economic recovery could easily trigger a pullback in commodity prices in the near-term, but for today it seems that investors are very much risk-on.”
Glencore, which has exposure to the world's decarbonisation effort through positions in copper, cobalt and zinc, rose 3% or 9.6p to 381.85p and has now lifted by 14% over the past month. The zinc price surged another 3% today and is up 15% on a weekly basis after one of the world's biggest smelters cut output in Europe due to rising energy prices.
Anglo American shares led the FTSE 100 index, lifting more than 3% or 94.5p to 2878.5p after a rise in the platinum price.
The FTSE 250 index continued its recent rebound, improving 157.83 points to 22,791.5 on a busy day for trading updates. Recruitment firm Hays improved 4% or 6.2p to 168.5p, while electronics firm discoverIE added 5% following its better-than-expected statement.
Sabre Insurance, which sells policies through brokers and its direct brands Go Girl and Insure 2 Drive, fell 2% or 4.8p to 190.2p in the FTSE All-Share after it said the recovery in motor insurance pricing has been slightly slower than it expected.
New finance chief at Purplebricks
11:37 , Joanna Bourke
Online estate agent Purplebricks has announced the surprise departure of its finance chief after little more than a year in post.
The AIM-listed firm did not give a reason for the departure of Andy Botha, who joined the company in May 2020, but thanked him for his “valuable contributions” in a brief statement to investors.
He will be succeeded by Steve Long, 36, in the first quarter of 2022. Long is currently finance director, strategy and transformation, at insurance firm esure Group, where he has held a number of senior financial positions since 2012.
Read more HERE.
Casino reopening boosts Grosvenor-owner Rank
11:59 , Oscar Williams-Grut
The reopening of casinos and bingo halls has been a boon for Grosvenor-owner Rank Group.
Rank said today that revenue at its Grosvenor venues was up 209% to £79 million in the three months to the end of September. The rebound helped drive a 69% jump in revenues across the group to £163 million. Rank also owns Mecca Bingo halls and operates online gambling websites.
“We have seen an excellent response from our customers as they return to our venues, with our colleagues doing a great job in ensuring they are being properly entertained within a safe environment,” said chief executive John O’Reilly.
While income is rebounding, revenues still remain below pre-pandemic levels. Grosvenor’s income was 20% less than in the same period in 2019.
“London continues to feel the impact of reduced tourism,” the company said.
O’Reilly said: “Whilst forecasting remains difficult as we emerge from the pandemic we are confident that trading will continue to improve across each of our businesses.”
Shares rose 1.9%
Domino’s hiring spree
12:40 , Oscar Williams-Grut
Dominic Paul, the chief executive of Domino’s, said the pizza chain is looking to hire 8,000 more people across the UK and Ireland, adding to its existing 35,000-strong total workforce in those areas.
The new roles are largely delivery driver jobs, and most are permanent. The hiring spree comes amid high demand for deliveries and was announced as the company reported that sales from franchisees and stores it directly operates, increased 9.8% to £375.8 million in the 13 weeks to September 26.
Paul said: “Our supply chain continues to deliver outstanding results, despite the well-publicised inflationary pressures and challenging labour market... While we see these pressures continuing into 2022, our success in managing them to date provides us with confidence that our growth momentum will be sustained.”
Shares slipped 1.3%.
Boots marches on
13:36 , Simon Freeman
Boots has hailed a “transformational year” as the pharmacy highlighted a sales rebound after the further relaxation in lockdown measures.
Owner Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) said it exceeded expectations over the final quarter of its financial year to August 31 as a result.
The global pharmacy giant said like-for-like sales increased by 12.8% to 34.3 billion US dollars (£25 billion) for the period.
WBA highlighted that it benefited from a strong operational performance from Boots, with growth for both its retail and pharmacy arms.
Boots’ managing director Sebastian James said sales through its online business had doubled against pre-pandemic levels, with the firm maintaining this growth despite returning high street footfall.
He added that growth in both healthcare and beauty meant the retailer was “now ideally placed to seize new opportunities” in the new financial year.
Boots saw like-for-like retail sales rise 15% in the latest quarter against the same period in 2020.
Meanwhile, its like-for-like pharmacy sales increased by 11.4% against a year earlier.
CarNext snapped up as used vehicle market remains strong
15:22 , Joanna Bourke
The owner of Cinch, a competitor to Cazoo, has bought a business that it said will make it become Europe’s largest online used car marketplace.
Constellation Automotive Group, also behind WeBuyAnyCar has acquired Amsterdam-headquartered CarNext, which is forecast to sell around 250,000 vehicles via its websites in 2021.
Read more HERE.
THG finds buyers
15:35 , Oscar Williams-Grut
THG has finally found some relief - the embattled e-commerce and retail company is up 4.2% this afternoon after a steep sell-off earlier in the week.
THG, which is behind brands like MyProtein and Glossybox, sunk 35% after a capital markets day to explain its e-commerce platform backfired spectacularly. THG was planning to pivot the entire company to focus on the Ingenuity platform. Now the market effectively values the division at zero.
You can read more about the collapse here.
