FTSE 100 Poised to Fall After Downbeat Asia, US Trading

0638 GMT - The FTSE 100 Index looks set to open 22 points lower at 7466, according to IG futures data, after downbeat trading in Asia and a negative close on Wall Street. Markets in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea all fall and the Dow dropped 0.2% Tuesday. Brent crude retreats 0.8% to $95.54 a barrel. "U.S. markets came under pressure as tech weakness acted as a wider drag after another earnings downgrade, this time from Micron, following Nvidia on Monday," CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson says in a note. "This weakness looks set to translate into a cautious European open as investors seek evidence that inflation is starting to show signs of topping out." (philip.waller@wsj.com)


 
Companies News: 

RS Group to Buy Mexican Distributor Risoul for $275 Mln

RS Group PLC said Wednesday that it has agreed to buy a distributor of industrial and automation product and service solutions in Mexico for $275 million.

---

Admiral Group 1H Pretax Profit Dropped After Booking Higher Costs

Admiral Group PLC reported on Wednesday a significant decline in pretax profit for the first half of 2022 on the back of higher costs, but said that it came in still 19% ahead of pre-pandemic levels.

---

Sika's MBCC Acquisition Gets In-Depth Review by UK Competition Regulator

Sika AG said Wednesday that the U.K.'s competition watchdog would take an in-depth look at its planned acquisition of German construction-chemicals company MBCC Group, delaying the closure of the deal.

---

Deliveroo 1H Pretax Loss Widened on Consumer Headwinds; Begins GBP75 Mln Share Buyback

Deliveroo PLC said Wednesday that its first-half pretax loss widened due to increased consumer headwinds, and began a 75 million-pound ($90.6 million) share buyback program.

---

Royal Mail Warns of Material Losses as Union Moves Forward With Strike

Royal Mail PLC warned on Wednesday that it expects to be materially lossmaking in fiscal 2023 if a proposed strike action takes place.

---

Airtel Africa Agrees on $125 Mln Loan to Support Operations, Investments

Airtel Africa PLC said Wednesday that it has signed a $125 million revolving credit facility with Citi, and that it will use the funds to support operations and investments at four of its subsidiaries.

---

Civitas Social Housing NAV Per Share Rose Slightly in June Quarter

Civitas Social Housing PLC said Wednesday that it continues to perform in line with expectations and that its net asset value per share increased slightly in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

---

Aviva Plans Further Buyback After 1H Profit Rose

Aviva PLC reported on Wednesday an increase in operating profit for the first half of 2022, backed its dividend guidance for the full year and outlined further plans for capital returns.


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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

08-10-22 0304ET