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From Direct Line to Joules: Financial results to watch today

Direct Line Group plc company logo. Photo Illustration: Igor Golovniov/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty Images
Direct Line Group plc company logo. Photo Illustration: Igor Golovniov/SOPA/LightRocket via Getty Images (SOPA Images via Getty Images)

Mid-year results season continues, with a number of big insurers slated for today, as well as key players in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250.

This will be updated on a rolling basis throughout the day with new insights.

Here's what you need to know as it plays out on Tuesday:

  • Hiscox (HSX.L) shares headed more than 1% higher on the opening bell in London as its interim report hailed a return to profitable growth for the insurer.

  • The company said that insurance premium rates have risen significantly over the recent months in cyber, product recall and space lines, but that it expects to be hit by claims due to the recent flooding in the UK and Europe.

  • The company reported a profit of $133.4m for its first half compared to a loss of $138.9m a year earlier.

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Read more: BP ups dividend and announces $1.4bn buyback as profits recover

  • Standard Chartered (STAN.L) announced a $250m share buyback and restart of its interim dividend payments worth 3 cents per share, or $94m in total.

  • This came off the back of a higher than expected 57% jump in first-half profit and $350m worth of shareholder payouts.

  • Shares rose around 2% in early trade following the report.

  • Joules (JOUL.L) share price wobbled on Tuesday morning, heading around 3.8% lower as it laid out its full-year results. The clothing retailer said store and shows sales were £36.6m in the year, compared with £63.2m in 2020.

  • Revenue shrunk 17% compared with the previous year, to £35.3m reflecting difficult trading conditions for clothing retailers due to the pandemic.

  • A 48% growth in e-commerce sales was the brand's saving grace, representing 77% of the group's retail revenue.

  • Direct Line (DLG.L) said that in its first half, operating profit increased by £105m to £369.9m benefiting broadly equally from benign weather conditions, strong prior-year reserve releases, the non-repeat of COVID-19 impacts on travel claims and the reversal of investment losses.

  • It said its interim dividend will be 7.6 pence per share, an increase of 2.7% over H1 2020. On or about 4 August 2021, the insurer expects to commence the second £50m tranche of a £100m share buyback programme announced in March 2021.

Read more: European markets mixed as UK chancellor urges young people back to offices

  • TP ICAP (TCAP.L), the world's biggest interdealer broker, pegged an underwhelming performance to COVID-19 disruption and quiet secondary markets in its latest trading statement.

  • In its first half, revenue hit 936m, 1% lower than the equivalent period last year (2020: £947m) on a constant currency basis (5% lower on a reported basis).

  • Shares moved around 4% lower in early trade in London.

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