Private sales per outlet per week increased by 15% in the second half Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTY) has said it expects to pay a modest final dividend for 2020 after strong second half trading that saw all debt cleared. The housebuilder noted that due to the good second-half performance, profits for the year to end December …

Vistry expects to pay modest dividend, with house sales up 20% over past six weeks Read More »

The board has approved an interim dividend of 20p per share, compared to 24.5p this time last year Johnson Matthey PLC (LON:JMAT) has declared a slightly smaller dividend for the first half after its profits shrank 88% despite a 2% rise in sales. Revenues from the chemicals group came in at £6.98bn for the six months …

Johnson Matthey trims dividend as profits hit by lower catalyst demand in pandemic Read More »

(Reuters) – Moderna Inc’s MRNA.O experimental vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage trial, the company said on Monday, becoming the second U.S. drugmaker to report results that far exceed expectations. Together with Pfizer Inc’s PFE.N vaccine, which is also more than 90% effective, and pending more safety data and regulatory review, …

We can stop COVID-19: Moderna vaccine success gives world more hope Read More »

Imperial announced a full-year payment of 137.7p, down a third on a year ago Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB) said additional costs for COVID-19 and losses in its non-tobacco arm hit its results for the year to end September 2020. Net revenues for the year dipped slightly to £7.99bn, while operating profits were 5.7% lower at £3.53bn. …

Imperial Brands knocked by COVID-19 costs and vaping losses Read More »

Stock markets have rocketed on hopes of a potential breakthrough in the search for a vaccine against Covid-19. Drugs firm Pfizer’s own shares leapt 14% after it said that preliminary analysis indicated that its coronavirus vaccine was 90% effective. Markets, already buoyed in response to a clear end to the US election, piled on gains …

Covid-19: Global stock markets rocket on vaccine hopes Read More »

Trading for next-generation products has continued to be disappointing, with revenues expected to be around 30% lower than last year Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB) said sales and cash generation have been slightly better than expected in the past year but earnings are likely to be lower.  New chief executive Stefan Bomhard, who joined at the start of …

Imperial Brands says vaping sales still disappointing but cash better than expected Read More »

While COVID-19 led to £533mln of extra UK costs, much higher sales volumes and the government’s business rates relief meant underlying retail profit still rose Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO) hiked its dividend 21% after reporting strong sales, profits and cashflow as the first half of the year as the grocery sector saw record demand due to the …

Tesco sales and profits surge as supermarket demand blots out coronavirus costs Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) avoided its first quarterly loss in recent history, helped by a booming trading business, but announced nearly $17 billion in impairment charges reflecting a pessimistic outlook for oil and gas prices. Shell had warned last month it was set to slash the value of its oil and gas …

Shell avoids loss with strong trading, wipes $17 billion off assets Read More »

People working from home have been eating more ice cream but neglecting their grooming habits, consumer goods giant Unilever has suggested. The firm said ice cream sales leapt 26% in the three months to June, but demand for shampoo and deodorant fell. It said it had seen strong “growth in home consumption of foods, ice …

Unilever: Ice cream in, personal hygiene out in lockdown Read More »

The mining giant continued to operate at all its locations through the pandemic Rio Tinto PLC (LON:RIO) has reported increased production and shipments of iron ore in the second quarter despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic amid a strong price environment. Overall, production volumes were up 1% year-on-year on a copper equivalent basis, with Pilbara iron ore production …

Rio Tinto increases production and shipments of iron ore in spite of coronavirus Read More »