Short-Dated Gilt Yields Could Fall After BOE Rate Increase in May

1038 GMT - U.K. short-dated gilt yields should fall after what Mizuho anticipates will be a final interest-rate increase by the Bank of England in May as the probability of future rate cuts increases, the bank's strategist Evelyne Gomez-Liechti says in a note. Gilt yield curves are expected to steepen into year-end as shorter-dated gilt yields edge lower while long-dated gilt yields stay at high levels, she says. Mizuho expects greater steepening in the 5-year versus 30-year curve than in 2-year versus 10-year curve. The latter will "remain inverted"--with 2-year gilt yields higher than 10-year yields--during the first half of 2023 on expectations that rate rises will push the U.K. economy "into recession", Gomez-Liechti says. The 2-year versus 10-year curve will dis-invert in the second half, she says. (miriam.mukuru@wsj.com)


 
Companies News: 

Moonpig Backs FY 2023 Revenue, Earnings View on 2H Resilience

Moonpig Group PLC said Thursday that its performance has been resilient in the second half to date as it booked its largest ever week of sales in the U.K. ahead of Mother's Day, and backed its expectations for revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for fiscal 2023.

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SSE Raises FY 2023 Adjusted EPS Guidance Again

SSE PLC on Thursday raised its adjusted earnings per share expectations to more than 160 pence ($1.97) in fiscal 2023, up from the updated 150 pence guidance and backed some of the other targets it issued in January.

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Shoe Zone Launches GBP3 Mln Share Buyback Program

Shoe Zone PLC said Thursday that it is launching a share buyback program to purchase 3.0 million pounds ($3.7 million) worth of shares.

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Arbuthnot Banking 2022 Pretax Profit Rose on BoE's Rate Increases

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC said Thursday that its pretax profit and net interest income rose significantly in 2022 thanks to the Bank of England's rate increases, which are expected to further boost revenue in 2023.

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Tasty Swung to FY 2022 Pretax Loss on Higher Costs

Tasty PLC reported on Thursday a swing to pretax loss on the back of increased costs despite higher revenue.

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Secure Trust Bank 2022 Pretax Profit Fell, Says Chairman to Retire

Secure Trust Bank PLC on Thursday said is confident it will deliver a strong performance in 2023 and announced the planned retirement of its chairman, as it posted a lower 2022 pretax profit.

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John Lewis of Hungerford 1H Pretax Loss Widened; FY 2023 Pretax Profit Seen Up on Year

John Lewis of Hungerford PLC said Thursday that its pretax loss widened for the first half of fiscal 2023 after booking higher costs, but that the board believed pretax profit for the year will be ahead of fiscal 2022.

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Dillistone Secures Potential Major Contract, Sees Revenue Rise From 2024 Onward

Dillistone Group PLC said Thursday that it has secured a potentially significant contract win with an undisclosed leading U.K.-based contingency recruiter company, without providing financial details on the deal.

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Gresham House 2022 Assets Under Management Rose On Fundraising, Investment Performance

Gresham House PLC said Thursday that its assets under management grew 20% in 2022, driven mainly by strong fundraising and investment performance, while net income increased.

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James Latham Sees FY 2023 Pretax Profit Meeting Market Expectations, Revenue Ahead

James Latham PLC said Thursday that it sees pretax profit for fiscal 2023 in line with market expectations, while revenue for the year ending March 31 is expected to be slightly ahead.

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International Public Partnerships 2022 Pretax Profit Rose; Backs Dividend Guidance

International Public Partnerships Ltd. said Thursday that 2022 pretax profit rose on its portfolio's unrealized fair value gains, and backed its 2023 dividend guidance.

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Aquis Exchange 2022 Pretax Profit Rose on Higher Trading Levels, Tech Growth

Aquis Exchange Ltd. on Thursday posted a rise in its 2022 pretax profit as its revenue was boosted by increased trading levels and it saw higher proceeds from data, technology licensing and issuer fees.

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Keywords Studios Buys Digital Media Management for Initial $67.5 Mln to Add US Expertise, Scale

Keywords Studios PLC said Thursday that it has bought social-media agency Digital Media Management, Inc. for an initial $67.5 million to add U.S. expertise and scale.

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Kelso Group Calls on THG to Consider Stock Listing Move, Share Buybacks

Kelso Group Holdings PLC on Thursday called on THG PLC to consider a move of its listing to the Premium List of the London Stock Exchange and a share-buyback program, as it raised its interest in the U.K. e-commerce company to around 0.5% of its issued share capital.

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Trackwise Designs Shares Fall on Widened 2022 Pretax Loss, Contract Delays, Impairment

Shares of Trackwise Designs PLC fell Thursday after the company said it expects to report widened losses in 2022 on the back of lower revenue and higher expenses, and that it will be hit by production delays and an impairment.

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BowLeven Shares Fall on Going-Concern Warning

Shares in BowLeven PLC fell Thursday after the company said there is material uncertainty about its ability to continue as a going concern, and that it expects to raise additional capital in 2023 to help finance its continuing corporate activities.

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Anglo Asian Mining Sees Production Doubling in Next Five Years, Plans to Open Four Mines

Anglo Asian Mining PLC on Thursday said it aims to double its production in the next five years with the opening of four new mines in Azerbaijan and to transition to a multi-asset, mid-tier copper and gold producer by 2028.

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Ascential 2022 Pretax Loss Widened on Higher Costs; Early 2023 in Line With Views

Ascential PLC said Thursday that its 2022 pretax loss widened after booking higher costs, and that 2023 has started well and in line with the board's plans.

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Chesnara Swung to Pretax Loss in 2022 on Tough Market Conditions

Chesnara PLC said Thursday that is swung to a pretax loss in 2022 on rising interest rates, falling equity markets and inflationary pressures, despite its insurance premium revenue rising on year.

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K3 Business Technology FY 2022 Loss Narrowed; Appoints New CFO

K3 Business Technology Group PLC said Thursday that its pretax loss narrowed for fiscal 2022 and that it has appointed a new chief financial officer.

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Orcadian Energy Shares Drop on Talks With New Investors

Shares in Orcadian Energy PLC fell 22% on Thursday after the company said it is in active talks with potential new investors as it needs working capital to secure a deal on its Pilot project, and posted a narrowed pretax loss for the first half of fiscal 2023.


 
Market Talk: 

Chesnara's Dividend Rise Confirms Reliable Payout Status

1034 GMT - Chesnara should have alleviated some investor concern with its dividend rise and strong cash generation, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mandeep Jagpal writes in a research note. The 3% increase to its dividend a share after a turbulent year confirms the U.K-based pension and life insurance policy manager's status amongst the most reliable dividend payers, Jagpal says. The improvement in cash generation to GBP82.7 million is a key positive and well above the RBC estimate of GBP41.3 million, Jagpal says. This was supported by introducing a foreign-exchange hedge that contributed GBP36.5 million, comfortably covering the dividend payout. This should relieve investor concern that cash generation in recent years was unable to support the dividend, Jagpal says. RBC initiates coverage of the Chesnara stock at an outperform rating and a price target of 350 pence. Shares are up 2.5% at 286.5 pence. (christian.moess@wsj.com)

Aquis Exchange Seen Delivering Sector-Beating Growth

1008 GMT - Aquis Exchange is a genuinely disruptive high-margin business that has significant opportunities ahead but is mispriced, Canaccord Genuity says in a note after the operator of pan-European equity trading exchanges posted a 2022 results beat. "We expect a combination of increasing [multilateral trading facility] usage, new technology client wins and the potential for game-changing data services profitability, post a likely consolidated tape introduction in Europe and the U.K. to all positively impact the [Ebitda] margin and lead to strong, sector-beating EPS growth over the medium term," say analysts Justin Bates and Portia Patel. Canaccord rates the stock buy and trims its target price to 1,008 pence from 1,022 pence. Shares rise 2.6% at 400 pence. (elena.vardon@wsj.com)

Aquis Exchange Is Well-Placed to Keep Growing Market Share

0958 GMT - Aquis Exchange's results highlight significant growth and operating leverage in the business model, Liberum says in a note after the operator of pan-European equity trading exchanges posted a 2022 pretax profit and revenue beat. "Aquis Exchange remains well placed to disrupt the status quo across its three divisions as evidenced by growing market share in the Markets business," analysts Nick Anderson and James Allen say, noting that despite this, the company trades at less than half the enterprise value-to-revenue multiple of its global peers. Liberum reiterates its buy rating on the stock and raises its target price to 870 pence from 850 pence. Shares rise 2.6% at 400 pence. (elena.vardon@wsj.com)


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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-30-23 0722ET