FTSE 100 rallied at the open even though Brexit talks are once again seemingly stalling over fishing rights. London’s leading index jumped 43 points to 6,533 in early trading.
The UK has cut £1bn from the budget for rail infrastructure, which now stands at £9.4bn. Chancellor Rishi Sunak had previously promised record investment in infrastructure across the country.
Associated British Foods PLC (LON:ABF) still expects Primark to grow yearly sales and profits, even though it has lost an estimated £430mln during the latest lockdowns. The fast-fashion chain is now operating 93% of its store space after a month of closures but still refuses to go online.
Not so Warner Bros, which has announced future blockbusters would be streamed at the same time as they are shown in cinemas pushing Cineworld shares further into doldrums. This year’s biggies Dune and Matrix 4 will both be released online, said the studio.
Helium One made a strong start to life on the London Stock Exchange, trading at a large premium to last month’s placing price. The helium explorer today joined AIM following its amalgamation with Attis Oil and Gas.
BlueRock Diamonds PLC (LON:BRD) has recovered a 12.6-carat diamond from its Kareevlei Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa. "Given the average engagement ring weight in the UK is 0.6 carats, a 12.6-carat diamond is considered exceptional,” the miner added.
Gfinity-PLC (LON:GFIN) has acquired EpicStream, a leading online news community for fantasy and sci-fi movies and comic books. The AIM-listed esports media firm said EpicStream’s social media channels can be grown using its SEO expertise.