FTSE 100 Rises to 22-Month High as Omicron Fears Ease
0840 GMT - The FTSE 100 jumps as worries over the spreading Omicron coronavirus variant subside. London's blue-chip index rises 1.1% to a 22-month high of 7471 points, according to FactSet. Travel, energy and bank stocks lead the gains. "Despite continually rising cases of Omicron, there is a growing belief that the variant is less deadly if more transmissible, particularly when coming up against the wall of triple-jabbed individuals," Interactive Investor analyst Richard Hunter says. "Further solace was taken from the decision of the Food and Drug Administration to authorise the Pfizer/BioNTech booster shot for 12 to 15 year olds." That means the variant could prove less damaging to the global economic recovery than previously feared, Hunter says. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
Companies News:
Wizz Air Passenger Numbers Rose 30% in 2021
Wizz Air Holdings PLC said Tuesday that its passenger numbers nearly quadrupled in December and rose 30% during 2021.
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Tasty's December Trading Was Disappointing After Spread of Omicron Covid-19 Variant
Tasty PLC said Tuesday that second-half trading up to December 2021 was extremely encouraging, but that business for December, which is normally its strongest performing month, was disappointing after a rise in infection rates of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
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Amigo Holdings Confirms Early Redemption of GBP184.1M of Sr Secured Notes
Amigo Holdings PLC on Tuesday confirmed the early redemption of 184.1 million pounds ($248.2 million) of its 7.625% senior secured notes due in 2024.
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Zenith Energy Reports Record Profitability for Italian Power Business
Zenith Energy Ltd. said Tuesday that its power-generation business in Italy achieved record profitability.
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IQGeo Gets $4.5 Mln Contract With US Telecom Operator
IQGeo Group PLC said Tuesday that it has secured a five-year $4.5 million contract for fiber-network planning, design, and construction management with a major U.S. telecom network operator.
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Avation PLC Says Philippine Airlines Has Exited Bankruptcy and Is Up to Date with Payments
Avation PLC said Tuesday that its customer Philippine Airlines has exited bankruptcy, has received court approval for its restructuring plan, and is up to date with its payments.
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Genel Suspends Drilling at Qara Dagh Well in Iraq
Genel Energy PLC said Tuesday that it has suspended drilling operations at the QD-2 well of the Qara Dagh oil project in the Iraqi Kurdistan, where it holds a 40% stake.
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GoldStone Resources Shares Fall After Update on Ghana Mine
Shares in GoldStone Resources Ltd. dropped Tuesday after the company provided on update on its Homase mine in Ghana, which started to produce gold in 2021.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
01-04-22 0451ET
