FTSE 100 to Open Flat Ahead of US Labor Data

The FTSE 100 is seen opening little changed as investors tread carefully ahead of the key U.S. nonfarm payrolls report later. Spreadbetting firm IG expects the index to fall 2 points at the start of trading. August's nonfarm payrolls report is due at 1230 GMT. "A strong figure, close to a million [jobs added] for the second straight month, would boost the idea that the Federal Reserve could start tapering its bond purchases as soon as November," Swissquote Bank analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya says. "While a soft figure, ideally below 500,000, could revive the Fed doves and push the expectations of Fed tapering to the end of this year, or the beginning of the next," Ozkardeskaya says. 


 
Companies News:

TechnipFMC Further Reduces Stake in Technip Energies With EUR196 Mln Sale

TechnipFMC PLC said Friday that it has agreed to sell a stake of around 9.9% in Technip Energies to a Dutch investment firm, further reducing its participation in the spunoff engineering-and-technology company.

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Berkeley Group Backs FY 2022 Profit Guidance as Housing Market Remains Resilient

Berkeley Group Holdings PLC said Friday that it remains on track to meet financial guidance and deliver a pretax profit at or above the 518 million pounds ($716.6 million) reported for fiscal 2021 for the year ending April 30, 2022.

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Weir Group Appoints Barbara Jeremiah as Chairwoman-Designate

Weir Group PLC said Friday that it has appointed Barbara Jeremiah as its next chairwoman, succeeding current chairman Charles Berry after its 2022 annual general meeting.

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Ashmore Group FY 2021 Pretax Profit Rose

Ashmore Group PLC said Friday that pretax profit for fiscal 2021 rose after the company booked lower costs, and that it was looking to fiscal 2022 with confidence.

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DiscoverIE Raises GBP55 Mln in Share Placing, More Than Planned

DiscoverIE Group PLC said Friday that it has raised 55 million pounds ($76.1 million) via share placing, more than previously planned.

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Petrofac Wins EUR100 Mln Contract in Libya

Petrofac Ltd. said Friday it has secured a 100 million euro ($118.7 million) contract with Zallaf Libya Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Co.

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Triple Point Social Housing Says 1H Net Asset Value Remained Flat

Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC said Friday that its net asset value stayed flat over the first half of the year, suggesting it declined in the second quarter.

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Eurocell Swung to 1H Pretax Profit, Reinstates Dividend

Eurocell PLC said Friday that it swung to a pretax profit for the first half of 2021 as revenue increased, and that it was returning to dividend payments.

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Serica Energy Appoints Andrew Bell CFO

Serica Energy PLC said Friday that Andrew Stuart Bell has been appointed as chief financial officer and a director of the company with immediate effect.

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Write to Sarka Halas at sarka.halas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

09-03-21 0308ET