FTSE 100 Set to Rise After Upbeat Asia, US Trading

The FTSE 100 Index is set to rise about 84 points to 7079, according to IG data, after an upbeat trading session in Asia and a higher close on Wall Street. Stocks in Hong Kong and Japan are 2% and 0.5% ahead respectively and the Dow closed Wednesday 0.3% up. "ECB minutes from the September meeting are due today," Danske Bank says. "Focus will be on the Governing Council's (GC) diverging views on the transitory nature of current high inflation. Investors will also keep an eye on any indications about the future of the PEPP programme, after the GC already decided to slow the purchase pace during Q4."


 
Companies News: 

Robert Walters 3Q Net Fee Income Rises; FY Performance to Be Ahead of Market Views

Robert Walters PLC said Thursday that its performance for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was strong, with profit expected to come in comfortably ahead of market expectations for the full year.

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Mondi 3Q Underlying Ebitda Rose, 4Q to Be Hit by Increased Costs

Mondi PLC said Thursday that third-quarter underlying Ebitda rose 27%, and that the fourth quarter will be affected by recent input cost increases as well as planned maintenance.

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Royal Dutch Shell Warns of $400M Hurricane Ida Hit; Says 3Q Performance Stronger Than 2Q

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Thursday that performance and optimization results for the third quarter of the year are expected to be above those of the prior quarter, though Hurricane Ida in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico hit its financial operations.

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JTC PLC Raises GBP78.9 Mln via Share Placing to Fund Acquisition

JTC PLC said Thursday that it has now raised 78.9 million pounds ($107.2 million) via a share placing first announced late Wednesday.

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Hyve Group Had Strong 4Q as Events Returned in UK, US

Hyve Group PLC said Thursday that it had a strong performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as the relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions in the U.K. and U.S. enabled events to return for the first time since February 2020.

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Morses Club Posts Jump in 1H Pretax Profit

Morses Club PLC on Thursday reported a strong rise in pretax profit and higher revenue for the first half ended Aug. 28, citing a strong increase in credit issued at its digital division.

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CMC Markets' 1H Net Trading Revenue Halved

CMC Markets PLC said Thursday that leveraged net trading revenue for the first half of fiscal 2022 is expected to halve amid a subdued trading environment.


 
Market Talk: 

Rio Tinto Output Expected to be Mostly Higher On-Quarter

Rio Tinto should report mostly higher third-quarter output versus the quarter immediately prior, with the exception of titanium dioxide production, which was hindered by a suspension of its South African Richards Bay Minerals operations, says Macquarie. The miner, which is scheduled to release its quarterly operational Oct. 15, is tipped by the bank to report a 37% quarter-on-quarter fall in titanium dioxide output. However, production and shipments of iron ore--its main product--from its Australian mines are expected to both be 11% higher on-quarter, Macquarie says. The bank also forecasts a 1% lift in aluminum output and a 7% increase in mined copper production.

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BHP First-Quarter Output Seen Softer Than Quarter Prior

BHP is likely to report lower production across its portfolio when it releases first-quarter operational results Oct. 19, says Macquarie. The bank estimates petroleum volumes for the three months through September were 4% weaker quarter-on-quarter, at 25.8 million barrels of oil equivalent, because of disruptions linked to Hurricane Ida. Macquarie expects metallurgical coal output down 16% on-quarter, due to seasonal maintenance work, and energy coal production down by 43% mainly because of the sale of its interest in the Cerrejon mine. Copper output should meantime be roughly 3% weaker, while iron-ore shipments will likely be down only 1% despite higher planned maintenance work, Macquarie says.

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Write to Sarka Halas at sarka.halas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-07-21 0306ET