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Mothercare trading improves in Q4, online returns to growth
A fourth quarter update from mother and baby retailer Mothercare on Thursday showed a slowdown in the company’s declining sales, while the online segment returned to growth against a still-challenging backdrop.
WH Smith ups divi 10% as travel gains dampened by high street
Retailer WH Smith upped its interim dividend payout 10% after first half profits dipped 1% as growth from the travel-focused arm was offset by the continued decline of the high street business.
Microsaic rockets on German product deal
Microsaic Systems saw its share price soar on Thursday as the company signed a heads of terms agreement with German's Knauer Wissenschaftliche Geräte over the AIM company's mass spectrometry technology.
Greene King profits to fall as snow dilutes pub sales
Pub operator and brewer Greene King said full year profit could fall 10-12% after pub sales worsened in the last few months of the year amid a continued "challenging" market.
Man Group first-quarter FuM up 3%, plans another share buyback
FTSE 250 hedge fund Man Group posted a 3% rise in first-quarter funds under management on Thursday as it announced plans to repurchase a further $100m shares following the completion of the $100m share buyback announced last October.
London open: Small losses seen amid geopolitical tension; FirstGroup surges
London stocks nudged lower in early trade on Thursday, holding up pretty well given the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions.
Hays reports Q3 net fee growth despite subdued UK
Personnel recruiter Hays reported third quarter like-for-like net fee growth of 10%, although Brexit worries continued to dog the UK and Ireland which posted a 2% fall in a “subdued” market.
Smurfit Kappa picks up 14 industry awards
Smurfit Kappa picked up 14 awards for its “creative and innovative” packaging at the European Flexographic Industry Innovation Awards, the company announced on Thursday.
Dunelm continues to trade in line as Q3 revenue rises
Homewares retailer Dunelm Group updated the market on its trading for the third quarter of its financial year on Thursday, which comprised the 13-week period ended 31 March, reporting that total revenue for the quarter rose 5. 1% to £268. 2m.
LondonMetric sells six warehouses in £36m deal
LondonMetric Property announced the disposal of four distribution and two industrial warehouses for £36m on Thursday, reflecting a blended net initial yield of 5. 9%.
Playtech to buy Italy's Snaitech for €846m as it moves to regulated markets
Gambling technology company Playtech on Thursday said it had agreed to buy 70. 6% of Italian betting and gaming outfit Snaitech from two major shareholders for €846m.
Countryside Properties buys partnerships housebuilder Westleigh for up to £135.4m
Countryside Properties has acquired Leicester-based partnerships housebuilder Westleigh for up to £135. 4m in cash on a debt free and cash free basis.
National Grid balances earnings after US storms and tax cuts
National Grid said major storms in the US will dampen its full-year profits, which for earnings per share will be largely offset by better finance costs and tax.
London pre-open: Stocks seen lower amid mounting geopolitical tensions
London stocks looked set to for a negative start on Thursday amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Intertek buys Colombia's Proasem for undisclosed sum
Intertek Group on Thursday said it has agreed to buy Proasem, a provider of laboratory testing, inspection, metrology and training services, based in Colombia, for an undisclosed sum.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Housing market, FirstGroup, Hammerson, Melrose
Britain’s property surveyors have issued the most downbeat assessment of the housing market for five years. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said that in March demand from buyers fell for the 12th month in a row, new instructions from sellers declined for the seventh consecutive month, and prices were flat nationally. Rics measures confidence in the property market by balancing surveyors seeing price rises against those seeing price falls. It said the figures were the lowest since 2013.