UK Gilt Yields Fall Further on Lower Supply Forecast

0943 GMT - The U.K. Debt Management Office's announcement of lower gilt sales for the fiscal year 2022-23 versus this year continues to drive gilt yields lower. The 10-year gilt yield trades last at 1.639%, down from Wednesday's close of 1.643%, according to Tradeweb. "Gilt yields dropped and the yield curve flattened as the DMO announced [Wednesday] a larger-than-expected cut of gilt issuance for next year," says Saxo Bank. Gross gilt sales were forecast at GBP124.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, substantially below this year's gross gilt supply of GBP194.8 billion, according to the DMO's financing remit. (lorena.ruibal@wsj.com)


 
Companies News: 

Games Workshop Raises Dividend; Sees Performance In Line

Games Workshop Group PLC said Thursday that business in the three months to the end of February met its expectations, and declared a dividend of 70 pence (92.4 cents) a share.

---

Arbuthnot Banking Swung to 2021 Pretax Profit; Resumes Dividend

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC on Thursday reported a swing to a pretax profit in 2021 on the back of lower costs after the integration of Asset Alliance, and declared a dividend payout.

---

EnQuest Swung to 2021 Pretax Profit on Revenue Rise Amid Higher Oil Prices

EnQuest PLC said Thursday that it swung to a pretax profit on increase revenue as oil prices rose, which was partially offset by lower production.

---

Bluejay Mining to Raise $7M for Greenland Project via Discounted Share Placing

Bluejay Mining PLC said Thursday that it will raise $7 million via a discounted share placing, and that it will use the funds to further develop the Dundas ilmenite project in Greenland, as well as for general corporate purposes.

---

Bridgepoint Group 2021 Pretax Profit Rose, Declares Dividend

Bridgepoint Group PLC said Thursday that 2021 pretax profit and revenue rose, increased driven by its core businesses of private equity and private debt.

---

International Public Partnerships 2021 Profit Rose on Covid-19 Recovery

International Public Partnerships Ltd. said Thursday that its 2021 profit and revenue rose due to a recovery from coronavirus pandemic-driven disruption, and declared an increased dividend.

---

Playtech Swung to 2021 Pretax Profit, Higher Revenue on Strong Performance From Snaitech, B2B Online

Playtech PLC said Thursday that it swung to a pretax profit on increased revenue, driven by Snaitech and B2B online, particularly in Latin America.

---

Tungsten Corp Agrees to GBP53.7 Mln Kofax Takeover

Tungsten Corp. said Thursday that it has agreed to a 53.7 million pound ($70.9 million) takeover by Project California Bidco Ltd., a newly-formed vehicle indirectly wholly-owned by Kofax Parent Ltd., as first flagged earlier this week.

---

Tullow Oil Appoints EnQuest's Jonathan Swinney as New CFO

Tullow Oil PLC said Thursday that it has appointed EnQuest PLC's Jonathan Swinney as its new chief financial officer.

---

McColl's Retail Group CEO Steps Down

McColl's Retail Group PLC said Thursday that Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Miller has stepped down and that a search for his successor is under way.

---

Next Lowers FY 2023 Sales, Profit Guidance on War and Inflation Effects -- Update

Next PLC reported Thursday a rise in pretax profit for fiscal 2022 ahead of management views, but said it has lowered its sales and profit guidance for fiscal 2023 due to the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and general inflation.

---

Braemar Shipping Services Expects FY 2022 Underlying Operating Profit Above Views

Braemar Shipping Services PLC said on Thursday that it expects to report fiscal 2022 underlying operating profit slightly above market expectations, and that its compliance with sanctions stemming from the war in Ukraine isn't expected to have any material effect on its fiscal 2023 performance.

---

Eurowag 2021 Pretax Profit Fell, Revenue Rose on Higher Business Scale

W.A.G Payment Solutions PLC said Thursday that pretax profit fell in 2021 as it booked higher costs, while revenue rose.

---

Secure Trust 2021 Pretax Profit Rose; Lowers Medium-Term Targets

Secure Trust Bank PLC on Thursday reported a return to growth across its businesses marked by a significant rise in pretax profit for 2021, though it said it has lowered its medium-term targets.

---

XP Power US Lawsuit Finds Against it; $40 Mln in Damages Levied

XP Power Ltd. said Thursday that a jury awarded Comet Technologies USA Inc., Comet AG, and YXLON International $40 million in damages after it found against XP in a U.S lawsuit trial.

---

CVS Group 1H Pretax Profit Rose; FY 2022 Expected to Be In Line With Views

CVS Group PLC on Thursday reported a rise in pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2022 and said that it expects to close the year with full-year earnings in line with management views.

---

Eve Sleep 2021 Pretax Loss Widened, Shares Fall

Eve Sleep PLC shares fell on Thursday after the company reported a widened pretax loss for 2021 as the group booked more expenses.

---

Robinson Swung to 2021 Pretax Loss on Higher Costs; Volatility to Continue in 2022

Robinson PLC said Thursday that it swung to a 2021 pretax loss after booking higher costs, and that the substantial uncertainty and volatility it experienced last year is likely to continue through 2022.

---

Pipehawk 1H Pretax Loss Widened on Difficult Conditions; Shares Fall

Pipehawk PLC shares fell Thursday after it said its first half pretax loss widened on difficult market conditions despite increased revenue.

---

McColl's Retail Group CEO Steps Down -- Update

McColl's Retail Group PLC said Thursday that Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Miller has stepped down and that a search for his successor is under way.

---

Tungsten Shares Rise After Pagero Says It Is Mulling Takeover, Trumping Kofax

Shares in Tungsten Corp. jumped 19% on Thursday after Pagero Group AB said that it is considering a potential 56.9 million pound ($75.1 million) offer for the London-listed digital financial-management company, trumping an agreed takeover by Kofax Parent Ltd.

---

Big Technologies 2021 Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose on New Contracts, Expanded Deals With Existing Customers

Big Technologies PLC said Thursday that 2021 revenue and pretax profit rose as it booked new contract wins and an increase in revenue from existing customers.

---

Energean 2021 Revenue Soared; To Pay Dividend Over Karish Production Start

Energean PLC said on Thursday that revenue soared on a higher price environment and that it expects to declare dividends after its main project will start producing.

---

Alpha Growth to Acquire Life Insurance Company, Doubling AUM; Shares Rise

Alpha Growth PLC shares rose Thursday after it said it has agreed to acquire a Guernsey-based life insurance company for a transaction value of around $3.3 million, more than doubling its assets under management.


 
Market Talk: 

Oil Ticks Higher Ahead of NATO, G-7 Meetings

0912 GMT - Oil ticks higher, caught between supply fears and the prospect of an Iran deal. Brent adds 0.6% to $118.48 a barrel. A U.S. official said Wednesday that progress had been made in talks over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Reuters reported. That lifted hopes Iranian crude could flow back to global markets, easing some of the tightness resulting from Russian supplies lost following the invasion of Ukraine. Still, fears that fresh sanctions could hit Russian oil exports remain, with Biden set to meet G-7 and NATO members Thursday, SPI Asset Management says. Iran's roughly 1.3 million barrels a day "would hit the oil price under normal circumstances but represents only a fraction of what might be lost from Russia." (william.horner@wsj.com)


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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-24-22 0602ET