FTSE 100 has again made a bright start helped by a decent updates from Glaxo and housebuilder Barratt. The index was up 49 at 7,615 in early trades.
Barratt Developments raised its guidance for home completions for the current year to 18,000-18,250 or higher than the number delivered in pre-pandemic 2019. The upbeat forecast may ease some concerns of a slowdown in the housing market.
UK airport service group John Menzies (LSE:MNZS) has rejected an approach from Taiwan’s Agility Logistics to buy the company. Agility Logistics has offered to acquire Edinburgh-based Menzies for 510p per share in cash, amounting to approximately £469mln.
Energy regulator Ofgem estimates approximately £200mln was lost over the past year through the failures of energy companies. Nearly 30 British energy firms collapsed in the second half of 2021.
Ceres Power shares jumped 15% as the fuel cells group signed a three-way collaboration with Weichai Power and Robert Bosch. The venture will target the ‘substantial opportunities’ that exist for fuel cell technologies in China.
Africa-focused gold junior Oriole Resources has intercepted "bonanza" gold grades, which is equal to or greater than 31.10 grammes per tonne of gold, at its Bibemi project. An update on its Wapouze gold project also showed 2m at 4.06 grammes in one trench.
Helium One Global said its quantitative analysis of minerals in Rukwa project area indicates a good to excellent quality reservoir. The analysis also demonstrated clean sands with very low clay content.