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| Yesterday’s UK 100 Leaders | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Persimmon PLC | 1,122.5 | 6.3% |
| Ashtead Group PLC | 5,068.0 | 4.2% |
| Pershing Square Holdings LTD | 4,162.0 | 2.8% |
| St. James’s Place PLC | 829.5 | 2.7% |
| Airtel Africa PLC | 119.2 | 2.7% |
| Yesterday’s UK 100 Laggards | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Jd Sports Fashion PLC | 90.0 | -6.5% |
| Games Workshop Group PLC | 12690.0 | -4.1% |
| Croda International PLC | 3081.0 | -3.5% |
| BP PLC | 419.6 | -2.7% |
| Next PLC | 9103.5 | -2.6% |
| Major World Indices | Price | % Chg | 1 Year |
| UK 100 INDEX | 8,202 | -0.3% | 7.6% |
| DOW JONES INDUS. AVG | 42,518 | 0.5% | 13.1% |
| DAX INDEX | 20,271 | 0.7% | 21.4% |
| NIKKEI 225 | 38,474 | -1.8% | 7.2% |
| S&P/ASX 200 INDEX | 8,231 | 0.5% | 9.8% |
| Commodities | Units | Price | % Chg |
| WTI Crude Oil (Nymex) | USD/bbl. | 78.09 | -0.93% |
| Brent Crude (ICE) | USD/bbl. | 80.34 | -0.83% |
| Gold Spot | USD/t oz. | 2,678 | 0.5% |
| Copper (Comex) | USd/lb. | 435 | 0.5% |
Click graph to enlarge
The UK 100 called to open +40 points at 8,242. The UK’s blue chip index looks set to open higher this morning after the office for national statistics this morning said that inflation had unexpectedly fell to 2.5% in December.
This rise comes on the back of a mixed session Stateside yesterday which saw the Dow Jones rise as traders weighed a lighter-than-expected producer price index report. The 30-stock Dow gained 221.16 points, or 0.52%, to close at 42,518.28. The S&P advanced 0.11% to 5,842.91, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 0.23% to end at 19,044.39.
Ashmore Group PLC reported a decline in assets under management by US$3.0 billion for the quarter ending December 2024, driven by net outflows and negative investment performance. Despite increased market volatility ahead of the US election, the company saw net inflows in equities and alternatives, indicating growing client recognition of emerging market opportunities. The company anticipates potential gains in emerging market assets with active management being crucial to capitalize on diverse investment opportunities.
Currys has raised profit guidance and pledged to resume dividend payments after the retailer reported a strong festive performance today. Like-for-like sales rose by 2% in the UK and Ireland, fuelled by strong demand in mobile, gaming and premium computing. The Nordics arm rose 1%. Profits for the April financial year are set to be between £145 million and £155 million, representing growth of up to 31% and ahead of the City consensus.
Experian reported a strong third quarter for FY25, with total revenue growth of 8% at constant exchange rates, reflecting solid underlying business trends. North America, constituting the majority of its revenue, showed robust growth, particularly in mortgages and automotive sectors, while Latin America and EMEA and Asia Pacific regions also demonstrated strong performance. Despite foreign exchange headwinds, Experian’s growth outlook remains positive with expectations of organic revenue growth between 6-8% for the full year, indicating resilience in its operations and strategic positioning across diverse markets.
Mitchells & Butlers, whose brands include Harvester and All Bar One, grew like-for-like sales by 10.4% over its peak three-week festive trading period. Across the first quarter to 11 January, like-for-like sales rose 3.9%. The chain said it faces an estimated £100 million of year-on-year cost headwinds in the current financial year, primarily increased labour costs. Despite these pressures, it continues to forecast profit growth and market outperformance.
Serco Group PLC has secured a significant $247 million contract with the US Army to enhance soldier readiness and performance through the Holistic Health and Fitness System. This contract, starting immediately, demonstrates Serco’s strong position in the defence sector, supporting 45 US Army brigades across 15 locations in the US. Following previous major US defence contracts, this win highlights Serco’s comprehensive support capabilities from recruitment to veteran assistance, reinforcing its strategic focus on the defence sector as its largest global market.
Vistry, Britain’s largest homebuilder by output, said on Wednesday that market conditions for the current fiscal year remained uncertain, and also reiterated its 2024 earnings forecast. The pace of recovery in the British housing sector is under scrutiny, as a slower-than-expected reduction in interest rates hampers affordability, while rising build-cost inflation continues to put pressure on the market. The UK 100 builder, which generates majority of its sales through partnerships with local authorities, housing associations and government providers, said the outcome of the UK government’s spending review and the transition to a new Affordable Homes Programme would be crucial in driving momentum in both open and partner-funded markets.
No New Broker Comments
UK
Currys*
Experian*
Vistry Group
Hays
US
BlackRock
Citigroup Inc
Goldman Sachs
JPMorgan Chase & Co
Wells Fargo & Co
UK
Antofagasta
Rathbone Brothers
US
Bank of America Corp
Morgan Stanley
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
UnitedHealth Group
UK Consumer Price Index
UK Producer Price Index
UK Retail Price Index
EU Industrial Production s.a.
US Consumer Price Index
NY Empire State Manufacturing Index
Fed’s Goolsbee speech
Fed’s Beige Book
UK 100 companies going ex-dividend on 16th January 2025:
Compass Group
Diploma
UK 250 companies going ex-dividend on 16th January 2025:
WH Smith
Grainger
Foresight Group Holdings
Future
B&M European Value Retail S.A.
TwentyFour Income Fund
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