UPDATE 2-United Utilities, Severn Trent shares down on wastewater probe Updates share move in paragraph 2, adds Thames Water's bond move in paragraph 4 July 16 (Reuters) - Shares in United Utilities UU.L and Severn Trent SVT.L fell on Tuesday after the UK's water regulator opened enforcement cases into them, as well as two others, as part of its ongoing probe into wastewater management.

UK water firms United Utilities, Severn Trent fall on regulatory probe July 16 (Reuters) - Shares in British water firms United Utilities UU.L and Severn Trent SVT.L fell after a water regulator on Tuesday opened enforcement cases into them, as well as two others, as part of its ongoing probe into wastewater management. United Utilities and Severn Trent were among the top percentage losers on the blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE index, falling about 1.5% and 1% respectively in early trading.

BRIEF-Severn Trent Says OFWAT Serves Section 203 Notices To Co July 16 (Reuters) - Severn Trent PLC SVT.L : SEVERN TRENT PLC - WASTEWATER TREATMENT INFORMATION REQUEST SEVERN TRENT PLC - OFWAT SERVES SECTION 203 NOTICES TO SEVERN TRENT SEVERN TRENT PLC - TO WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH OFWAT Source text for Eikon: ID:nRSP5598Wa Further company coverage

BRIEF-Ofwat Announces Enforcement Cases Against 4 More Cos In Wastewater Treatment Investigation July 16 (Reuters) - OFWAT ANNOUNCES ENFORCEMENT CASES AGAINST FOUR MORE COMPANIES IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT INVESTIGATION OFWAT: SERVED FORMAL NOTICES ON DŴR CYMRU WELSH WATER, HAFREN DYFRDWY, SEVERN TRENT AND UNITED UTILITIES Source text for Eikon: [ID:

UPDATE 1-Rising risk of UK's Thames Water being broken up, JPMorgan warns Adds detail and quotes from paragraph 4 By Marc Jones LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - The financial future of Britain's biggest water firm , Thames Water , looks increasingly uncertain in the wake of new pricing and spending limits laid out by regulator Ofwat, according to investment bank JPMorgan.

Rising risk of "disruptive outcome" for Thames Water, JPMorgan warns LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - The financial future of Britain's biggest water firm Thames Water looks increasingly uncertain, investment bank JPMorgan warned on Monday. Analysts at the bank said they were concerned that UK regulator Ofwat’s tough stance on financial resilience laid out last week may increase balance sheet risks in UK water sector and that Thames was now facing particular risks.

UK water companies sign up to government reform plans, minister says LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - British water utilities have signed up to the government's initial package of reforms for the sector, environment minister Steve Reed said on Thursday after meeting with representatives from 16 companies. “After meetings with water bosses this afternoon, they have now signed up to my initial package of reforms as we work towards cleaning up our water, prioritising the interests of water customers a

BUZZ-UK water utilities up after Ofwat's bill increase boosts optimism ** Shares of water utility companies climb as British water regulator Ofwat allows average bills to be raised by 21% ** Pennon, which also named Laura Flowerdew as new CFO , up 7.6% at 666p ** Severn Trent SVT.L up 3% at 2,694p; United Utilities UU.L up about 2.4% at 1,091.5p ** Regulator says for the next five years, companies will be able to increase average bills by 94 pounds ($120.87) ** The proposal from Ofwat was lower

LIVE MARKETS-Europe edges higher before US CPI test STOXX 600 up 0.5% Eyes on CPI Wall St futures lower Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com EUROPE EDGES HIGHER BEFORE US CPI TEST Major European equity markets are up on Thursday, with most of the sectors in the green, as investors look ahead to U.S.

UPDATE 4-UK water companies must improve without big bill rises, regulator says Ofwat sets average bill rise at 21% vs 33% requested Water UK says Ofwat investment proposal not enough Government sets out tighter regulation plans Adds sewage spills reduction in paragraph 9, Thames Water response in paragraphs 12-13 By Sarah Young and Paul Sandle LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Britain's regulator told water companies they needed to fix leaks and cut sewage spills without raising bills as much as they

BRIEF-Severn Trent Says Financial Performance For Year Remains On Track July 11 (Reuters) - Severn Trent PLC SVT.L : SEVERN TRENT PLC - SEVERN TRENT PLC TRADING STATEMENT SEVERN TRENT: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR YEAR REMAINS ON TRACK SEVERN TRENT:EXPECTS TO PERFORM IN LINE WITH GUIDANCE, INCLUDING DELIVERING NET ODI REWARD IN YEAR OF OVER £100 MILL

UK's Ofwat proposes average water bill rise of 21% LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Britain's water regulator Ofwat said average bills would rise by 21% over the next five years, lower than asked by water companies, in an initial decision on the industry's future amid a sewage pollution crisis and funding problems at Thames Water. Reporting by Sarah You

PRESS DIGEST-British Business - July 11 July 11 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times - The Daily Mail owner DMGT has withdrawn from the auction for the Telegraph newspapers amid fears that it would be drawn into a long and complex competition inquiry.

UK's under-fire water industry braced for regulatory showdown Regulator to set out level of permitted bill increases Companies say bill hikes needed to upgrade infrastructure Critics argue companies have under-invested for decades By Sarah Young and Marc Jones LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - Britain's under-fire water companies are braced for a reckoning when the industry's regulator on Thursday sets out the level of bill increases they will be permitted, amid public outrage over rising costs and wo

BUZZ-JPM sees growth for UK utilities with investment boost, regulatory clarity ** Shares in UK utilities .FTUB6510 up 0.5% at 727.3 pence vs FTSE 100 index .FTSE which is flat at 0.03% ** J.P. Morgan predicts continued growth for UK utilities with increase in investment and regulatory clarity ** Predicts rise in National Grid's NG.L and SSE's SSE.

Labour win spells more regulatory clarity for UK utilities, JPM says July 5 (Reuters) - British utilities are expected to benefit from an increase in investment and regulatory clarity after the centre-left Labour Party's victory in the parliamentary election, analysts at JP Morgan said on Friday. The FTSE utilities index .FTUB6510 was up 0.6% by 0921 GMT, with gains led by British Gas owner Centrica CNA.L and power plant operator Drax DRX.L .

BUZZ-UK Water Utilities up after JP Morgan upgrades ** Shares of British water utilities UU.L and Severn Trent SVT.L up about 2% ** Both among top gainers on the FTSE 100 index .FTSE ** JP Morgan upgrades UU to "overweight" from "neutral" on June 20 ** Upgrades SVT to "Neutral" from "Underweight" ** JPM says its expects regulatory decision on price

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Huhtamaki, Ryanair and Wizz Air June 21 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies, including Huhtamaki, Ryanair and Wizz Air, on Friday. HIGHLIGHTS * B&M European Value Retail BMEB.L : Morgan Stanley cuts to underweight from equal weight * Huhtamaki HUH1V.HE : Barclays raises to overweight from equal-weight * Ryanair RYA.I : Barclays cuts to equal-weight from overweight * Wizz Air WIZZ.L : Barclays cuts to underw

UPDATE 2-London stocks recover as yields retreat; Auto Trader hits record high For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window FTSE 100 up 0.6%; FTSE 250 climbs 1.2% Auto Trader soars after FY profit beat BoE Governor Andrew Bailey's speech awaited Updated at 1608 GMT By Pranav Kashyap and Purvi Agarwal May 30 (Reuters) - Britain's stocks rose on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 snapping a six-day losing streak as Auto Trader hit a record hig

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on May 30 May 30 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening lower on Thursday, with futures FFIc1 down 0.4%. * BP: British oil major BP BP.L and Trinidad and Tobago's state energy firm NGC have received a two-year license from the U.S. Treasury Department to negotiate and develop the Cocuina-Manakin gas fields with Venezuela, Trinidad's energy minister said.