FTSE 100 Drops as Property, Financial Stocks Fall

0817 GMT - The FTSE 100 Index drops 1%, or 74 points, to 7074 as losses for property and financial shares outshine gains for a handful of stocks including Smiths Group. Land Securities, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon are among the biggest fallers in the property and construction industry, while Barclays, Admiral and Prudential also retreat. Industrial conglomerate Smiths gains 4% after agreeing to sell its medical division to ICU Medical. "Japanese markets have provided the one area of strength overnight in a session that saw Australian and Hong Kong indices lose ground," IG analysts say. "Weakness elsewhere reflects a poor session in Europe and Asia, with risk assets under pressure after a weak payroll figure Friday and rising U.S. Delta cases," they say. (philip.waller@wsj.com) 


 
Companies News:

Morrisons in Talks Over Potential Auction to Resolve Bidding War

Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC said Wednesday that it is in talks over a possible auction to resolve a competitive situation between Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC and a consortium led by Fortress Investment Group LLC.

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Smiths Group Agrees to ICU Medical's Offer for Smiths Medical

Smiths Group PLC said Wednesday that its board has withdrawn its recommendation of the deal entered with TA Associates LLP for the sale of Smiths Medical as it has now agreed to sell it to ICU Medical, Inc. on better terms.

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Halfords 20-Week Revenue Rose on Increased Scale, Retail Growth

Halfords Group PLC said Wednesday that 20-week sales rose compared to pre-pandemic comparative figures, driven by the increased scale of its autocentres business, growth in retail motoring and strong growth in retail cycling.

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Dunelm Declares Special Dividend on Raised Profit; Expects to Beat FY 2022 Market Views

Dunelm Group PLC said Wednesday that it would pay a special dividend after its fiscal 2021 profit grew from both the prior year and fiscal 2019, and that it expects to beat market expectations for its current year.

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REA Holdings Swung to 1H Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose

R.E.A. Holdings PLC said Wednesday that it swung to a first-half pretax profit while revenue rose on the back of firm crude palm-oil prices and increased production.

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Biffa Net Revenue for Five Months to Aug 12% Higher Vs. in 2019

Biffa PLC said Wednesday that group net revenue for the five months to August was 12% higher than in 2019's comparable period, and that the board's outlook for the year remains positive and in line with its expectations.

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S4 Capital Says MediaMonks, LA Agency Cashmere Will Merge

S4 Capital PLC said on Wednesday that U.S.-based marketing agency Cashmere Agency will merge with MediaMonks, its wholly-owned marketing and advertising company.

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Bakkavor 1H Pretax Profit Rose More Than Fivefold

Bakkavor Group PLC on Wednesday reported a significant rise in pretax profit for the first half of 2021 and said its outlook is positive, in line with the board's expectations, despite industry-wide challenges.

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Accesso Upgrades Revenue Forecast on Strong Momentum

Accesso Technology Group PLC said Wednesday that the board has revised upwards its full-year revenue forecasts after closing July and August with a strong performance.

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CPP Group CFO Oliver Laird Resigns

CPPGroup PLC said Wednesday that Chief Financial Officer Oliver Laird has resigned in order to take up a new role.

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Inspecs 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed, Revenue Rose Significantly

Inspecs Group PLC said that its first-half pretax loss narrowed, and that earnings and revenue greatly increased.

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Augean 1H Pretax Profit Rose Significantly; Growth Expected to Continue

Augean PLC on Wednesday reported a rise in pretax profit for the first half of 2021, saying it it targeting further growth in its core markets of energy from waste, construction and radioactive waste.

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Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Targets GBP75 Mln in Fundraise

Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC said Wednesday that it will hold a fundraise targeting gross proceeds of around 75 million pounds ($103.4 million) to fund new acquisitions and portfolio expansions.

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Pebble Beach Systems Shares Rise on 1H Pretax Profit Increase, Higher Orders

Pebble Beach Systems Group PLC shares rose Wednesday after it said that its pretax profit for the first half rose, together with revenue and orders received.

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Impact Healthcare REIT 1H Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose; Increases Dividend

Impact Healthcare REIT PLC on Wednesday said its pretax profit and revenue rose in the first half of the year, and declared an increased interim dividend.

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ProPhotonix Shares Rise on Higher 1H Pretax Income, Revenue

Shares in ProPhotonix Ltd. rose Wednesday after reporting that pretax income for the first half of the year rose as revenue increased, and that it expects performance in the second half to be in line with the first.

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Frontier Developments' FY 2021 Pretax Profit Rose

Frontier Developments PLC reported Wednesday a rise in pretax profit for fiscal 2021 and said the board expects to benefit from revenue growth in fiscal 2022.

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Pan African Resources Sees FY 2021 Earnings Rise on Strong Gold Revenue

Pan African Resources PLC said Wednesday that it expects a sharp rise in earnings per share and headline earnings per share for fiscal 2021, boosted by higher gold revenue.

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M Winkworth First-Half Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose

M Winkworth PLC said on Wednesday that pretax profit for the first half rose as revenue more than doubled, and that its sales applicants continue to track ahead of 2019 levels.

Contact: London NewsPlus, paul.larkins@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

09-08-21 0435ET