UKX FTSE 100 Index

FTSE 100 to Open Lower as UK Jobs Data Support Rate Rise Bets

0742 GMT - The FTSE 100 is expected to open lower as investors react to the latest U.K. employment data. Spreadbetting firm IG sees the London index opening down 14 points. U.K employers added a record 184,000 staff to their payrolls in December, according to the Office for National Statistics. The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage point to 4.1% in the three months to the end of November, below economists' forecasts of 4.2% in a WSJ survey. "A robust labor market further supports current expectations for the Bank of England to continue hiking interest rates this year," Silicon Valley Bank analyst Sam Cooper says. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

 
Companies News: 

Rio Tinto's Australian Iron-Ore Shipments Fall

Rio Tinto's annual iron-ore shipments from its Australian mining operations fell by 3% in 2021 with projects disrupted by a worker shortage and supply chain issues, but expects shipments will likely increase this year.

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Genel Energy Expects Cash Flow to More Than Double in 2022

Genel Energy PLC said Tuesday that it expects cash flow to more than double in 2022.

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888 Holdings Sees 2021 Revenue Growth of 14% on Expansion in Regulated Markets

888 Holdings PLC said Tuesday that it expects to report revenue growth of 14% for 2021, driven by an expansion in regulated markets.

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Henry Boot Sees 2021 Pretax Profit Beating Market Views

Henry Boot PLC said Tuesday that it ended 2021 with a pretax profit materially ahead of the market's expectations and that it is making good progress against its new medium-term strategic targets.

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Elementis 4Q Performance in Talc Division Below Year-Earlier Period

Elementis PLC said Tuesday that performance in its Talc division in the fourth quarter was below that from a year earlier because of reduced automotive-related demand stemming from semiconductor supply shortages.

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Energean Adjusted Earnings Jumped 88% in 2021

Energean PLC on Tuesday reported that its adjusted earnings nearly doubled in 2021.

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ProCook Sees 3Q Revenue Growth, Gross Margin Fall

ProCook Group PLC said Tuesday that it expects to report a revenue increase for its third quarter but a gross margin decline in line with its expectations amid supply-chain issues.

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Brickability Sees FY 2022 Adjusted Ebitda Rising Ahead of Market Views

Brickability Group PLC said Tuesday that it expects its fiscal 2022 adjusted Ebitda to exceed current market expectations.

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THG Expects FY 2022 Growth Margins to Get Boost From Strong Demand

THG PLC said Tuesday that it expects 2022 growth margins to improve, as the company benefits from continued strong demand, and that it remains confident about its growth plans.

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Petra Diamonds 1H Revenue Rose 49%

Petra Diamonds Ltd. on Tuesday reported revenue rose 49% in the first half of the fiscal year.

 
Market Talk: 

Brent Prices Rise, OECD Oil Inventories Set to Be Lowest Since 2000

0450 GMT - Brent prices rise in the Asian session amid expectations of an increasingly tight market, Goldman Sachs says. "Robust fundamentals have reversed last year's oil price melt-down, with the market remaining in a surprisingly large deficit as the Omicron demand hit is so far smaller" than expected, the investment bank says. A lack of progress on the Iran nuclear talks may mean a ramp-up of oil production in the country would be slower than expected, it says. This may "bring OECD inventories to their lowest level since 2000," Goldman says. Front-month Brent is 0.8% higher at $87.15/bbl, its highest level since 2014.(yongchang.chin@wsj.com)

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Rio Tinto's 2022 Earnings Will Likely Hinge on Prices, Costs

0028 GMT - Rio Tinto's 4Q production was somewhat lower than Jefferies had been expecting and, based on the miner's 2022 guidance, the bank expects little volume growth for the company overall this year. "This means that Rio's earnings trajectory for 2022 will depend entirely on prices and unit costs," says Jefferies, adding that a weaker iron-ore price could be a headwind after 1Q. Rio Tinto shares are flat in Sydney. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 18, 2022 03:03 ET (08:03 GMT)

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