London Stocks Are Expected to Open Higher

0744 GMT - The FTSE 100 is expected to open 61.5 points higher, according to IG, having closed Thursday at 7099.09, reversing some of the previous day's falls but with sentiment remaining fragile due to the continuing conflict in Ukraine. "Earlier optimism about a possible agreement between Ukrainian and Russian governments faded, as the meeting between the countries' foreign ministers yielded no results," Danske Bank said. However, the conflict didn't prevent the European Central Bank from pushing ahead with plans to scale back monetary stimulus and it was clear that it considered risks of higher inflation outweigh risks to growth, Danske says. Meanwhile, U.K. monthly GDP data for January was strong, rising by 0.8%. (jessica.fleetham@wsj.com)


 
Companies News: 

Omega Diagnostics' Visitect Covid-19 Antigen Test Rejected for Approval by UK Health Security Agency

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC said Friday that the application filed to the U.K. Health Security Agency for the approval of its professional-use Visitect Covid-19 antigen test hasn't been successful and that the product won't be available in the general market in the U.K.

---

Balfour Beatty Starts GBP150 Mln Share Buyback

Balfour Beatty PLC said Friday that it has begun a share buyback program, repurchasing up to 150 million pounds ($196.3 million) of ordinary shares in open market transactions.

---

Global Ports Holding Revenue Rose in First Nine Months of FY 2022

Global Ports Holding PLC said on Friday that revenue rose in the first nine months of fiscal 2022, and that the long-term outlook for the industry continues to be positive as cruise activity in the third quarter strongly accelerated.

---

Berkeley Group Backs FY22 Profit Guidance on Robust Performance

Berkeley Group Holdings PLC said Friday that it is performing robustly despite a volatile business environment, and that it expects to deliver fiscal 2022 profit in line with guidance.

---

Hyve Group Buys US Virtual Events Group Fintech Meetup -- Deal Digest

ACQUIRER: Hyve Group PLC, the U.K. events company.

---

All Evraz Nonxecutive Directors Resign Amid UK Sanctions on Russia

Evraz PLC said Friday that all of its nonexecutive directors have resigned with immediate effect.

---

Hardide 2H Started Strongly, Expects Sales to Rise 40% in the Period

Hardide PLC said Friday that the second half of fiscal 2022 started strongly and that it expects to report a 40% rise in sales for the period.


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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-11-22 0308ET