The FTSE 100 closed down 0.45% Friday with equities--excluding big tech--firmly in the red, bringing a dismal week of losses to a close. Austria's lockdown decision revived the specter of weak growth and European markets mostly fell in unison, IG Group chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp says. The house building sector, financial stock and oil and commodity prices all slipped due to lower yields and fears of a return to lockdowns, Mr. Beauchamp says. "The drop in stocks generally comes after a good run in October and November, and a 2-3% drop would help set up a December bounce, but it is certainly true that, outside of big tech, buyers are hard to come by this afternoon," he says.
Companies News:
Ryanair Confirms LSE Delisting
Ryanair Holdings PLC said Friday that it is delisting from the London Stock Exchange, which is expected to become effective on Dec. 20.
---
GB Group Raises Around GBP305 Mln Via Discounted Placing; Shares Drop
Shares in GB Group PLC on Friday fell after the company said it has raised gross proceeds of around GBP305 million via a discounted share placing and subscription of shares.
---
GB Group to Acquire Acuant for $736 Mln Enterprise Value; Proposes Placing
GB Group PLC said Thursday that it intends to acquire Acuant Intermediate Holding Corp., and proposed a placing and retail offer to raise up to 305 million pounds ($411.4 million).
---
Unilever to Sell Lipton Tea to CVC Capital for $5 Billion
Unilever PLC has agreed to sell the bulk of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners for EUR4.5 billion, equivalent to more than $5 billion, the consumer-product giant's latest move to jettison slower-growing parts of its business.
---
Halma Buys Healthcare-Services Provider Infinite Leap for $30 Mln Upfront
Halma PLC said Friday that it has acquired Infinite Leap Inc. for its CenTrak medical sector business.
---
Kingfisher 3Q Sales Fell But Beat Pre-Pandemic Equivalent; Upgrades FY Guidance
Kingfisher PLC said Friday that sales fell on year in the third quarter of fiscal 2022, but rose compared with the equivalent pre-pandemic period two years earlier, and that its fourth quarter has started well.
---
Wincanton Posts Higher 1H Profit; Sees Full-Year Earnings In Line With Views
Wincanton PLC on Friday reported an improved profit for the first half of the fiscal year, and said that it remains on track to meet expectations for the whole year.
---
Carclo Swung to 1H 2022 Pretax Profit; FY Performance Seen Above Expectations
Carclo PLC said Friday it swung to a pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2022 on strong performance that is expected to continue for the full year.
---
Octopus Renewables to Raise GBP73.9 Million for Potential Acquisitions
Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLC said Friday that it plans to raise up to 73.9 million pounds ($99.8 million) via an equity issue, and that it will use the funds to acquire renewable-energy projects across Europe.
---
Van Elle Says 1H Revenue Grew; Sees Full-Year Performance in Line With Views
Van Elle Holdings PLC said Friday that its revenue for the first half of fiscal 2022 rose, and that it expects its performance for the full year to be in line with market expectations, despite supply-chain challenges.
Market Talk:
Kingfisher Faces Uncertainty as DIY Boom Eases
1006 GMT - Kingfisher is facing uncertainty as the boom in home-improvement spending during the pandemic eases off, analysts say. While the pandemic led to people working from home doing more work on their properties, the third-quarter trading update from the owner of B&Q in the U.K. and Castorama in France shows the initial DIY-mania has tailed off a little since last year, trading firm eToro says. Jefferies says the update confirmed ongoing upward pressures on short-term profit. "Inevitably the long list of unknowns ahead of next year translates into no changes to mid-term estimates," Jefferies analyst James Grzinic says. Shares fall 4.3%. (philip.waller@wsj.com)
Contact: London NewsPlus, paul.larkins@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-19-21 1204ET
