Some Optimism for UK Housing Market but More Price Falls Expected

1248 GMT - Although there's some early optimism for the U.K. housing market in the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey, the sector is still slowing, with expectations for further price falls this year as macroeconomic headwinds weigh, Interactive Investor says. The survey reported a smaller-than-expected fall in the key house price balance and a shrinking negative reading on new buyer enquiries, Interactive head of investment Victoria Scholar says in a market comment. The market has been grappling with issues including rising mortgage rates and a cost-of-living crisis, along with sluggish economic growth, Scholar says. "The economic uncertainty with the revival of inflation post-pandemic and the Ukraine war has resulted in many would-be buyers holding off in anticipation mortgage rates and house prices will fall further this year," Scholar says. (joseph.hoppe@wsj.com)

COMPANIES NEWS:

ConvaTec Group 2022 Pretax Profit Fell on Higher Charges; Revenue Rose

ConvaTec Group PLC said Thursday that pretax profit fell in 2022 on higher expenses and charges, despite higher revenue, and raised its dividend payout.

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Aviva Swung to 2022 Pretax Loss; Launches GBP300 Mln Buyback

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DS Smith Says Positive 1H Trends Have Continued Into 2H

DS Smith PLC said Thursday that positive trends experienced in the first half of the year have continued into the second, and performance has been in line with the board's expectations.

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Informa 2022 Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose; Buys Tarsus for $940 Mln

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Spirax-Sarco Engineering 2022 Pretax Profit Fell, Missed Consensus on Higher Costs

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Endeavour Mining 4Q Profit Fell on Impairments; Revenue Rose

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Entain 2022 Revenue, Earnings Rose: US JV Set to Be Ebitda Positive in 2H 2023

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M&G Swung To 2022 Pretax Loss; Says On Track To Meet 2024 Capital Generation Target

M&G PLC on Thursday reported a swing to 2022 pretax loss and said it is on track to meet its capital generation target by the end of 2024.

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Hammerson 2022 Net Loss Narrows on Lower JV Losses, Property Revaluations

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Alliance Trust Swung to 2022 Pretax Loss Amid Inflation, Ukraine War, Higher Interest Rates

Alliance Trust PLC said Thursday that it swung to a pretax loss in 2022 amid high inflation, the war in Ukraine and higher interest rates.

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Harbour Energy 2022 Net Profit Fell Due to UK Tax Charge; Launches $200 Mln Buyback Program

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HSBC Says IFRS 17 Implies Lower 2023 Net Interest Income Guidance, 1H 2022 Figures

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Franchise Brands 2022 Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose Driven by B2B Division

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Kier Group 1H Profit Doubled on Strong Operations; Order Book Grows

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Domino's Pizza FY 2022 Pretax Profit Fell on Costs, Interest Rates; Sees Higher FY 2023 Ebitda

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PageGroup 2022 Pretax Profit, Revenue Rose Amid Record Performance

PageGroup PLC said Thursday that pretax profit and revenue rose in 2022, with a record performance in 27 countries.

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Town Centre Securities Swung to 1H Loss on Property Valuation Losses

Town Centre Securities PLC said Thursday that it swung to a pretax loss in the first half of fiscal 2023, driven by property valuation falls.

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IQE Sees 1H 2023 Revenue to Decline GBP30 Mln on Weakening Demand

Shares of IQE PLC fell 27% in early trade on Thursday after the company said that it expects revenue for the first half of this year to fall around 30 million pounds ($35.5 million) due to inventory build-up throughout the supply chain as demand weakens.

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Jarvis Securities Shares Fall on Lower 2022 Pretax Profit; Model B Client Base Cut

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CHP Software and Consulting to Raise GBP22 Mln From Alfa Financial Shares Sale

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Hansard Global 1H Pretax Profit Rose Despite Dip in Fees, Commissions

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WANdisco Shares Suspended After Discovery of Potentially Fraudulent Irregularities

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NWF Sees Fiscal 2023 Pretax Profit Beat on Strong 3Q

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N4 Pharma's Pretax Loss Narrowed in 2022 on Lower R&D Costs

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Atlantic Lithium Shares Rise on Trading Restoration, Rejection of Short-Seller Allegations

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Silver Bullet Data Services Sees Ebitda in Line, Revenue Growth of More Than 50% for 2022

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EnSilica to Raise Up to GBP2.5 Mln via Discounted Placing, Subscription, Retail Offer

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Alpha Financial Sees Fiscal 2023 Results Ahead of Market Views

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Network International 2022 Pretax Profit Rose, Sees Higher 2023 Ebitda Margin

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Volution Group 1H Pretax Profit Edges Up Amid Broad-Based Growth

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Bens Creek CFO Murat Erden Resigns

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MARKET TALK:

WANdisco's Potential Fraud Looks Like a Nightmare

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

03-09-23 0920ET