FTSE 100 Rises as Omicron Worries Ebb; Pharma, Mining Stocks Fall

0910 GMT - The FTSE 100 index rises 0.2% in early trade to 7355.88, boosted by gains for travel and leisure stocks as evidence grows that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is less dangerous than previous variants. This eases concerns about potential disruption to the economy via renewed restrictions, analysts say. British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines is the biggest riser, up 4.6%, while hotel and restaurants company Whitbread rises 3.1%. FTSE 100 gains are limited, however, due to falls in pharmaceutical stocks and heavyweight mining companies. Dechra Pharmaceuticals is the biggest faller, down 1.7%, while pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline loses 0.6%. Miners BHP and Rio Tinto fall 0.3%. U.K. stocks underperform their European peers, with the pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index up 0.4% at 480.36. (jessica.fleetham@wsj.com) 


 
Companies News:

Ryanair Widens FY 2022 Net Loss Guidance, Cuts December Traffic Forecasts

Ryanair Holdings PLC said Wednesday that it has widened its expected net loss for fiscal 2022 and cut its December passenger forecasts, due to the Omicron coronavirus variant and government restrictions weakening bookings.

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Flutter Entertainment to Buy Sisal for GBP1.62 Bln

Flutter Entertainment PLC said Thursday that it has acquired the Italian online gaming operator Sisal from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI for 1.62 billion pounds ($2.16 billion).

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Balfour Beatty's US Subsidiary to Pay $65.4 Mln in Resolution With Justice Department

Balfour Beatty PLC said Thursday that its subsidiary Balfour Beatty Communities has reached a resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of improperly claiming performance incentive fees between 2013 and 2019.

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Yourgene Health Awarded Covid-19 Contract by U.K. Government

Yourgene Health PLC said Thursday that Yourgene Genomic Services has been awarded a contract for the provision of laboratory capacity to support Covid-19 testing in the U.K.

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Uniphar Acquires E4H, Devonshire Healthcare Services and Navi Group

Uniphar PLC said Thursday that it has acquired E4H, Devonshire Healthcare Services and Navi Group without disclosing further financial details about the deals.

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Jadestone Energy CFO Dan Young to Step Down

Jadestone Energy PLC said Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Dan Young has decided to leave the company.

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Fletcher King Swung to Pretax Profit in 1H

Fletcher King PLC said Thursday that it swung to a pretax profit in the first half of fiscal 2022 as the market returned to a more stable condition, but said that the Omicron variant brings another period of uncertainty.

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ADM Energy Urges Shareholders to Support CEO, COO, Chairman at AGM

ADM Energy PLC said Thursday its board is unanimously recommending that its shareholders vote against the resolutions to remove from the board its chief executive, chief operating officer and nonexecutive chairman at its coming general meeting.

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Amedeo Air Four Plus 1H Pretax Loss Narrowed

Amedeo Air Four Plus Ltd. said Thursday that its pretax loss narrowed for the first half of fiscal 2022 after booking lower costs, and reiterated that it will start regular quarterly dividends in January.

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Duke Royalty Says 3Q Cash Revenue Is GBP3.9 Mln; Expects Growing Revenue in 4Q

Duke Royalty Ltd. said Thursday that its cash revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2022, ending Dec. 31, will total 3.9 million pounds ($5.2 million), and that it expects a further increase in quarterly cash revenue in the fourth quarter.

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CT Automotive Group To Start Trading on London's AIM

CT Automotive Group PLC said Thursday that its shares have been admitted to trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

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NewRiver REIT Sells Poole Retail Park for GBP58 Mln

NewRiver REIT PLC said Thursday that it has disposed of the Poole Retail Park in Dorset, England, for 58.0 million pounds ($77.4 million).

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Carbon Air Group Stock Market Debut on London's AIM Delayed to January

Carbon Air Group PLC said Thursday that it now expects to float on the AIM in late January, with further details to be confirmed.

Contact: London NewsPlus, Dow Jones Newswires; Dow Jones Newswires; paul.larkins@wsj.com

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12-23-21 0558ET