UK stocks were ever slightly lower by lunchtime on Monday, even as local restaurants, bars and other non-essential businesses began to reopen, with sentiment uncertain amid global jitters over rising bond yields and lofty stock valuations.
By lunchtime, London’s blue chip benchmark index was off 22 points or 0.31%, at 6,894.2, with high street names weakening on reopening day as investors decided to ‘sell the fact’.
According to market commentators, investor optimism appears to be somewhat tempered by concerns over the next month’s local and regional elections, in particular how well the Scottish National Party might do and whether or not they get a mandate from voters for another independence referendum.
HAMMERSON IN TALKS TO SELL RETAIL PARKS
In company news, property developer Hammerson (HMSO) dipped 2.7% to 36.4p after it confirmed it is in talks to sell its portfolio of retail parks to rival developer Brookfield.
Hammerson gave the usual disclaimer that there can be ‘no certainty that a transaction would take place or the terms on which any transaction may occur’.
It added, ‘As announced at its full year results, the company continues to make asset disposals in liquid markets to further strengthen the balance sheet, with gross proceeds of £73 million achieved to date in 2021.’
Mining giant BHP (BHP) dropped 1% to £21.30 as its joint venture Samarco Mineracao filed for judicial review for bankruptcy protection after failing to agree terms on a debt restructure with creditors.
Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale - both of which own 50% in Samarco - are expected to continue negotiations in the coming months with the Brazilian authorities to settle the R$155 billion public civil claim commenced by the Federal Prosecutors Office against the trio of companies.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZN) edged 2% higher to £73, even after it revealed that high-level results from a phase 3 trial assessing the potential of a drug called Farxiga to treat patients hospitalised with Covid-19 failed to meet its primary goal.
The trial failed to achieve statistical significance for the primary goal of ‘prevention measuring organ dysfunction and all-cause mortality, and the primary endpoint of recovery measuring a change in clinical status (from early recovery to death), at 30 days,’ the company said.
CAKE BOX TO REPORT RECORD REVENUE
Cake seller Cake Box Holdings (CBOX:AIM) jumped 2.8% to 261p as it reported that, despite the impact of lockdown restrictions throughout the year, in the 40 weeks from 1 June 2020 to 7 March 2021 like-for-like sales in franchise stores grew 14.7%.
As a result, it expects to report record revenue for the year up around 16% compared to the same period last year, with adjusted pre-tax profit in line with market expectations.
Freight manager Xpediator (XPD:AIM) gained 4% to 59p as it hiked its divided after reporting an 81% rise in annual profit.
Pre-tax profit for the year through December increased to £3.9 million, up from £2.2 million year-on-year, as revenue rose 3.7% to £221.2 million. The firm declared a full-year dividend of 1.5p per share, up 13% year-on-year.
It said the growth in revenue reflected a generally resilient performance during Covid-19-impacted months, coupled with a strong performance in the last quarter of 2020. The company said its 2021 first quarter trading results were positive and ahead of management expectations.
OTHER NEWS
Tobacco giant Imperial Brands (IMB) added 0.5% to £15.50 on announcing that Lukas Paravicini would join as chief financial officer earlier than expected, on 19 May.
German business park investor Sirius Real Estate (SRE) gained 1.3% to 95.1p as its annual rent roll rose 7.6% and it collected more than 98% of rent due for the year.
Student accommodation provider Unite (UTG) improved 0.9% to £10.93 on announcing that 73% of rooms were now reserved for the 2021/22 academic year across its entire portfolio.
Brake-disc manufacturer Surface Transforms (SCE:AIM) reversed 4.1% to 70p, having booked a full-year loss after spending on research and development offset a broadly flat revenue performance. Surface Transforms said it was targeting a full year profit in 2022.
Ingredients supplier Treatt (TET) gained 3.6% to 992p as it said it expected to grow its first-half revenue by 14%, while also achieving an improvement in margins.
