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| Yesterday’s UK 100 Leaders | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Games Workshop Group PLC | 14,630.0 | 2.7% |
| Informa PLC | 786.0 | 2.1% |
| JD Sports Fashion PLC | 79.5 | 2.0% |
| Melrose Industries PLC | 540.6 | 2.0% |
| M&G PLC | 225.6 | 2.0% |
| Yesterday’s UK 100 Laggards | Price (p) | % Chg |
| Compass Group PLC | 2,500.0 | -4.8% |
| Croda International PLC | 3,017.0 | -2.6% |
| Diageo PLC | 2,035.5 | -2.1% |
| GSK PLC | 1,505.0 | -1.7% |
| Schroders PLC | 380.4 | -1.6% |
| Major World Indices | Price | % Chg | 1 YEAR |
| FTSE 100 INDEX | 8,707 | 0.0% | 12.5% |
| DOW JONES INDUS. AVG | 41,965 | 0.9% | 7.3% |
| DAX INDEX | 23,288 | -0.4% | 29.5% |
| NIKKEI 225 | 37,752 | -0.3% | -7.5% |
| S&P/ASX 200 INDEX | 7,828 | -0.4% | 1.7% |
| Commodities | Units | Price | % Chg |
| WTI Crude Oil (Nymex) | USD/bbl. | 67.16 | 0.39% |
| Brent Crude (ICE) | USD/bbl. | 70.91 | 0.50% |
| Gold Spot | USD/t oz. | 3,047 | 0.0% |
| Copper (Comex) | USd/lb. | 510 | 1.7% |
Click graph to enlarge
The UK 100 called to open +5 points at 8,712. The UK 100 is called to open, a muted start is expected in London this morning after the UK’s bluechip index eked out a modest gain yesterday having spent the majority of the session in the red.
Data released this morning showed Wage growth including bonuses is at 5.8%. Excluding bonuses, the growth is at 5.9%. All in line with expectations
Stocks rallied on Wednesday Stateside, with the S&P clawing back more of the rout since late February that took the benchmark briefly into correction territory, as the Federal Reserve forecast it would still cut interest rates two times in 2025. The Dow Jones climbed 383.32 points, or 0.92%, and closed at 41,964.63. The S&P jumped 1.08% to end at 5,675.29, and the Nasdaq advanced 1.41% to settle at 17,750.79. The central bank kept the federal funds rate at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, a decision that was widely expected. That said, the Fed kept its outlook at two rate cuts coming in the remainder of this year, noting “uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.”
Crest Nicholson the homebuilder, said it has seen an “encouraging” start to the year and remains on track to meet its guidance.
Cranswick, the food producer has increased its medium-term revenue, margin and earnings growth targets, and said demand for its core pork and poultry products has remained strong.
Prudential reported a drop in new business profit last year as China’s slowdown weighed on buyer interest. New business profit fell 2% to $3.08 billion on an actual exchange rate basis, according to a statement Thursday. That compared with the $3.18 billion average estimate by seven analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The growth rate would have been 11% on a constant exchange rate basis, excluding interest rate and other economic movements. New business profit from the mainland market dropped 50% to $111 million, on actual exchange rate basis. Hong Kong’s annual premium sales grew 5% to $2.06 billion. Domestic sales grew 34% under retirement product push, while sale to mainland China customers were 11% lower due to strong first half comparison in 2023.
Shaftesbury, the developer has sold a 25% stake in its Covent Garden estate to Norges Bank Investment Management, valuing the portfolio at £2.7 billion.
Wickes, the DIY retailer announced a £20 million buyback and said that trading continues to be robust in its Retail division, and is improving in its Design & Installation arm.
UK
Energean (ENOG)
Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY)
Prudential (PRU)
US
Accenture (ACN) PMO
FedEx (FDX) AMC
Micron Technology (MU) AMC
Nike (NKE) AMC
UK
Ceres Power Holdings (CWR)
J D Wetherspoon (JDW)
US
NIO (NIO) PMO
EU leaders summit
PBoC Interest Rate Decision
German Producer Price Index
UK Average Earnings
UK Claimant Count Change
UK Employment Change
EU Economic Bulletin
BoE Interest Rate Decision
BoE Minutes
BoE MPC Vote
UK Monetary Policy Report
US Initial Jobless Claims
US Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey
UK 100 companies going ex-dividend on 20th March 2025:
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Pearson
Beazley
UK 250 companies going ex-dividend on 20th March 2025:
Goodwin
Chemring Group
BlackRock World Mining Trust
Patria Private Equity Trust
HgCapital Trust
Ruffer Investment Company
Law Debenture Corporation
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