FTSE 100 ends lower on disappointing corporate updates, BT Group soars
For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window
BT Group up after CEO aims for more than double free cash flow
Sage Group tumbles after lowering annual revenue forecast
FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.2%
Updated at 1615 GMT
By Pranav Kashyap and Purvi Agarwal
May 16 (Reuters) -Britain's FTSE 100 closed slightly lower on Thursday, as disappointing news from EasyJet and Sage Group offset a surge in BT Group after the telecoms group's new boss unveiled steps to boost its cash flow.
BT Group's shares BT.L surged a record17.2% after CEO Allison Kirkby set out a path to more than double free cash flow over the next five years and potentially dispose of its global enterprise business.
"I always love to squeeze the shorts ... and prove them wrong," the FT quoted Kirby as saying.
Helping counter those gains, shares of EasyJet EZJ.L slid6.0% after the budget airline said CEO Johan Lundgren will step down in early 2025 and reported first-half losses in line with its expectations.
Sage Group SGE.Ldropped 9.4% after the software group trimmed its full-year revenue forecast on expectations of lower growth in the United States.
The blue-chip FTSE 100slipped 0.1% after hitting a series of record highs in recent weeks on hopes of monetary policy easing from major central banks and positive corporate earnings.
Bank of England policymaker Megan Greene said the central bank should wait for more conclusive evidence that strong inflation pressures were becoming less stubborn before it moved to cut rates.
The Bank of England will start bringing down interest rates in August, a slim majority of economists polled by Reuters projected.
"There is a keen eye trained on comments from Megan Greene, who is still urging bit of caution. The pound has gained some more ground and that could be why the FTSE dipped back into negative territory slightly, with expectations that the bank won't rush to cut rates in June," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.
Shares of BP BP.L fell 1.5%, GSK GSK.L dropped 1.6% while Kingfisher KGF.L slumped 2.8% as the stocks traded without the entitlement to their latest dividend payouts.
The mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC closed up 0.2% at a more than two-year high.
Watches of Switzerland WOSG.Lsoared 19.9% after the luxury retailer forecast higher revenues in its new financial year.
Reporting by Pranav Kashyap, Purvi Agarwal and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen Soreng and Richard Chang
For related prices, Reuters users may click on - * UK stock report .L FTSE index: 0#.FTS6 techMARK 100 index: .FTT1X FTSE futures: 0#FFI: Gilt futures: 0#FLG: Smallcap index: .FTSC FTSE 250 index: .FTMC FTSE 350 index: .FTLC Market digest: .AD.L Top 10 by vol: .AV.L Top price gainers: .NG.L Top % gainers: .PG.L Top price losers: .NL.L Top % losers: .PL.L * For related news, click on - * UK hot stocks: HOT and GB Wall Street: .N Gilts report: GB/ Euro bond report GVD/EUR Pan European stock report: .EU Tokyo stocks: .T HK stocks: .HK Sterling report: GBP/ Dollar report: USD/ * For company prices, click on - * Company directory: UKEQ By sector: FTAX * For pan-European market data, click on - * European Equities speed guide................ EUR/EQUITY FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... .FTEU3 DJ STOXX index................................... .STOXX Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ .PGL.STOXXS Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... .PGL.STOXXES Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. .PGL.FTEU3S Top 25 European pct gainers.................... .PG.PEUR Top 25 European pct losers..................... .PL.PEUR
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.