Company News
Thursday preview: Tesco and PepsiCo results due
On Thursday, interim results from supermarket chain Tesco and Next15 will be in focus, while full-year results from Volution Group are also due.
Rank shares fall after £5m Gambling Commission settlement
Shares in Rank Group slipped on Wednesday after the Gambling Commission said three of its casino businesses would pay £5m over anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings.
Canada's billionaire Weston family to buy Boots in £6.7bn deal
Canada's billionaire Weston family has agreed to buy The Boots Group from US private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $8. 9bn (£6. 7bn).
Director dealings: First Property Group CEO raises stake
First Property Group revealed on Wednesday that chief executive Ben Habib had acquired 300,000 shares in the AIM-listed property fund manager.
Nick Prettejohn to succeed Aubrey Adams as Tritax chair
Tritax Big Box REIT said on Wednesday that it has appointed Nick Prettejohn as its next chair.
Pennon shares tumble on rights issue, dividend cut
Shares in Pennon tumbled on Wednesday after the water utility unveiled a rights issue and cut its dividend as part of a major operational reset and increased investment programme.
Porsche targets stronger margins with new 2035 strategy
Porsche set out plans on Wednesday to lift profitability and cut its reliance on sales volumes, as the sports-car maker unveiled a new strategy running through to 2035.
Shell sees record Q3 refining margins, lifts gas production estimate
Shell on Wednesday said third‑quarter refining margins were set to hit a record high, with the oil giant expecting margins to jump to $42 a barrel, up sharply from $24 in the previous quarter.
CRH to buy NCC Industry’s operations in Denmark, Finland
Building materials provider CRH said on Wednesday that it has agreed to buy NCC Industry’s operations in Denmark and Finland from Swedish construction firm NCC AB for an undisclosed sum.
Metlen mulls possible Athens listing of METKA division
Metlen Energy & Metals said on Wednesday that it is considering a potential stock market listing of its infrastructure business METKA Group on Euronext Athens.
Hostelworld warns FY earnings will miss consensus expectations
Hostelworld warned on Wednesday that its full-year earnings would fall short of analysts’ expectations, partly due to the conflict in the Middle East weighing on volumes.
Royal Mail plans up to 2,500 job cuts in organisational overhaul
Royal Mail said on Wednesday that it plans to cut up to 2,500 head office and support-function roles by the end of 2027 as part of a wider organisational overhaul aimed at reducing costs and simplifying the business.
Ocado said to be in talks with Coles over robots in stores, shares jump
Ocado surged on Wednesday following a report that Australia's Coles is exploring the use of robots in its supermarkets to pick and pack grocery orders and is in early stage talks with the London-listed company about trialling the technology in one of its Melbourne stores.
Galliford Try appointed to £1.6bn University of Oxford framework
Construction firm Galliford Try announced on Wednesday that it has been appointed to £1. 6bn University of Oxford framework.
Frasers Group buys 8.8% stake in US sportswear brand Under Armour
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has bought an 8. 8% stake in US sportswear brand Under Armour.
Avon Technologies beats FY26 expectations on stronger orders, improved margins
Respiratory protection equipment manufacturer Avon Technologies set out the next phase of its strategy on Wednesday as it posted a stronger‑than‑expected trading update for FY26, highlighting improving momentum across both Avon Protection and Team Wendy.
Bridgepoint lifts FY earnings guidance, shares spark
Bridgepoint lifted its 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday, citing an "exceptional" performance from one of its funds, as it rebased its dividend policy.
IMI to acquire Italy's iSMA Controlli for €63m
Engineering firm IMI has agreed to buy iSMA Controlli, an Italian building‑automation specialist, in a deal valued at €63m, with the business set to join the group's climate control division.
HSBC to cut jobs in UK wealth management arm in AI push - report
HSBC is reportedly planning sweeping job cuts in its UK wealth management business, drastically reducing its ranks of financial advisers and other specialists as part of a push to use AI to help serve wealthy clients.
Hollywood Bowl sees record revenue despite hottest UK summer
Ten-pin bowling chain Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday held earnings guidance and said full year revenue would hit a record £261m as a strong performance in Canada offset the UK’s hottest ever summer which kept people at home.