Ftse 100 ceos

By Helen ReidLONDON (Reuters) - Concerns about growth, doubts about a U.S.-China trade truce, and a rising pound drove Britain's top stock index down on Tuesday.gi The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> fell 0.4 percent by 0940 GMT, tracking losses in global stocks as investors' optimism on a deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to delay tariffs evaporated.A jump in sterling also weighed the exporter-heavy index down. The currency rose as much as 0.9 percent after an adviser to the European Union's highest court said Britain should be allowed to unilaterally revoke its departure notice.Investors were on tenterhooks as the British parliament began five days of debates on Prime Minister May's Brexit deal ahead of a crucial Dec 11 vote."We're fairly neutral on the UK, but we're playing it mainly through passive exposure - because you get the benefit of the currency if it weakens," said Rory McPherson, investment director at Psigma Investment Management. Mining … [Read more...] about Sterling rally weighs FTSE 100 down as Brexit and growth anxieties dominate

By Danilo Masoni MILAN (Reuters) - A heavy fall in publisher WPP and gains in the pound kept the FTSE 100 lagging behind its euro zone peers on Thursday as stocks in Europe attempted to rebound following a turbulent start of the month. The UK's top share index was down 0.4 percent at 6,939 points by 0851 GMT, also weighed by a bounce in the pound, while the more domestically focussed mid-cap index joined the broader bounce, rising 0.1 percent. "That the pound has risen following yesterday's meeting between Theresa May and the 1922 Committee, one that reportedly saw the PM escape with her leadership intact, contributed to the FTSE’s decline," said Connor Campbell of Spreadex. The FTSE 100, which is down 10 percent this year, derives 70 percent of its profits from overseas and strength in the pound is generally a headwind for its export oriented companies. WPP lost as much as 23 percent at one point after a major downturn at its creative agencies in New York and London forced it … [Read more...] about WPP slump keeps FTSE 100 behind European peers

By Helen Reid LONDON (Reuters) - Energy and mining stocks helped the FTSE 100 recover some of its losses on Tuesday, in a half-hearted bounce which left the index near its lowest in a month as Brexit negotiations and Italy's budget deficit continued to sap investors' appetite for risk. Britain's top stock index <.FTSE> hovered up 0.05 percent by 0838 GMT. A selloff in the previous session had taken the FTSE down to its lowest intraday level since September, and weakest close since April. Overall analysts have been downgrading earnings estimates for the FTSE 100 as third-quarter results season approaches and Brexit negotiations drag on. "Even if you did know the Brexit outcome it's still not entirely clear what that means for the performance of UK equities," said Mike Bell, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management. "We think it's quite hard for UK equities to outperform in either scenario," he added, noting a "soft" Brexit would boost sterling and likely weigh on … [Read more...] about FTSE 100 stalls as cyclicals strength fails to lift Brexit cloud

By Danilo Masoni MILAN (Reuters) - Oil majors gained on stronger crude prices on Wednesday, helping to steady Britain's top share index, while a profit warning hit energy provider SSE <SSE.L>. The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> was flat by 0909 GMT, having hit its lowest point in five months in the previous session. The internationally exposed index has lost ground in recent weeks as the pound strengthened on the back of growing optimism over a Brexit deal and worries over trade and emerging markets kept investors wary. However, sterling fell on Wednesday on reports of a potential challenge to Prime Minister Theresa May. The oil and materials sectors provided the biggest lift to the FTSE, adding a combined 20 points to the index. Shares in BP <BP.L> and Shell <RDSa.AS> both rose more than 1 percent, as looming sanctions against Iran raised expectations of tightening supply, helping lift crude prices. SSE tumbled 8.8 percent to its lowest level since February 2011 after it … [Read more...] about Oil stocks keep FTSE steady as SSE hit by profit warning

(Reuters) - Sage Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kelly is set to leave the British software company in May next year, it said on Friday, and reaffirmed its organic revenue growth targets for the year. The accounting, payroll and human-resources software provider said its chief financial officer, Steve Hare, would take over as chief operating officer on an interim basis. Hare will run the business until a new CEO is appointed. "While the shares might react negatively to the announcement of CEO Stephen Kelly stepping down, we believe the Board's decision to appoint CFO Steve Hare as the interim COO is positive," Jefferies analysts wrote in a note, calling Hare an ideal choice for the next CEO. Sage, which reported slower subscription growth in the first half, has been seeking to migrate to cloud-based subscription services from packaged software, like most of its competitors. Trading continues to be in line with the full year guidance of about 7 percent organic revenue growth … [Read more...] about Software developer Sage’s CEO Stephen Kelly to step down