Source: Sharecast
STOCKS TO WATCH
Banking and wealth management firm Investec said on Friday that it expects interim results to be broadly in line with the prior period, supported by a solid performance across its core banking and wealth operations despite a volatile macro backdrop. For the six months ended 30 September, adjusted earnings per share were expected to be between 38.7p and 41.5p, compared with 39.5p a year earlier, while adjusted operating profits before tax were seen between £451.0m and £481.8m.
Kainos said on Friday that it has bought Canadian IT specialist consultancy Davis Pierrynowski for an undisclosed sum. Established in 2014, Nova Scotia-based Davis Pier works across the public sector and community organisations, including projects to modernise the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Nova Scotia Healthcare, and Early Learning and Childcare, Kainos added.
NEWSPAPER ROUND-UP
The UK government borrowed more than expected last month, official figures show, adding to pressure on the Treasury in the run-up to the autumn budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed public sector net borrowing – the difference between public spending and income – rose to £18bn in August, £3.5bn more than in the same month a year earlier. The reading was above City predictions for a deficit of £12.75bn and forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility of £12.5bn. – The Guardian
Rachel Reeves's policies are hurting the UK economy and risk fuelling years of "anaemic" growth, the boss of Next, the high street retailer, has warned. Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise, the long-serving chief executive of the fashion retailer, said he remained cautious about the company's prospects, despite continued sales and profit growth. "The medium-to-long-term outlook for the UK economy does not look favourable," he said. – The Times
A British manufacturer that supplies glass roofs to Jaguar Land Rover has been forced to halt factory operations and begin laying off staff as the impact of a cyber attack grows. Webasto employs 350 workers at its site in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, but has warned that jobs are at risk after the crisis at JLR forced bosses to temporarily halt all car production. – The Telegraph
A large shareholder in Spire Healthcare, the London-listed hospitals company, is agitating for the board to launch a strategic review. Harwood Capital Management, which has a stake of about 5% in the FTSE 250 company, wants the board, led by Sir Ian Cheshire, the City veteran, to appoint advisers to consider options for the company, including a possible sale. – The Times
US CLOSE
Major indices closed higher on Thursday as traders rotated back into technology names following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.27% at 46,142.42, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.48% to 6,631.96 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.94% stronger at 22,470.73.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
