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STAN CHART - Barclays said to explore a potential merger with them (798)..+3-5%

BRITVIC - Revs 2% ahead, EBITDA GBP80.5m with margin at 11% v BAML 9.3%(774)+2%

BARCLAYS - Said to explore a potential merger with StanChart; FT report(215)+2%

GREAT PORTLAND - 845p NAV is +5.8%, underlying valuations are +2.9% (689.8).+2%

BAER - Better than exp with AuM 1% ahead & net inflows of 5-6% ahead too(64)+2%

MONDI - +ve read. Burgo & Lecta both to increase CWF and UWF prices (2086)+0.5%

SEVERN TRENT - Inline. U/lying EPS 2% ahead of cons / PBIT is inline(2070)+0.5%

IGG - Trading update looks in line ahead of capital markets day today (885).u/c

BOVIS - Trading update looks fine. No new news on anything unexpected (1291)u/c

SAGE - Competitor Intu printed strong FQ3 results and guided up FQ4 (678.8).u/c

MINERS - Copper -0.7%, Iron Ore fut -1% with BHP OZ +0.4% & RIO OZ +0.14%...-1%

RIO - Spec that Rio is ready to accept a $3.5bn Grasberg exit deal (4370.9).-1%

WPP - Sentiment -ve. Loses $400m HSBC media duties to PHD (Omnicom) (1332.8)-2%

MARKS & SPENCER - Pretax profit ok but margins weak and clothing poor(291)-2-3%

 

MS

COMPANY  INDICATION  COMMENT

BAER SW  UNCH        IMS SHOWS GROWTH TRENDS CONTINUE & DELIVERY ON COSTS - CET1 LIGHT @ 13.3% -20BPS (QoQ)

BARC LN  +2%         SAID TO BE EXPLORING POTENTIAL MERGER WITH STAN.CHART (CS, DBK & DBS ALSO MENTIONED)

BVIC LN  +1%         REVS +4.5%, STRONG GROWTH IN Q2. TOO EARLY TO ASSESS IMPACT OF SOFT DRINK TAX LEVY

MKS LN   +5%         WILL SQUEEZE TODAY WITH 17% SHORT BASE AS COMPANY MAINTAINS FY GUIDANCE & DIVIDEND

PFV GY   +1%         FY18 OUTLOOK SLIGHTLY POSITIVE

STAN LN  +3%         SAID TO BE EXPLORING POTENTIAL MERGER WITH BARCLAYS

SVT LN   UNCH        SMALL EPS BEAT, DIVI IN LINE, £100m FURTHER COST SAVINGS TO BE RE-INVESTED

 

RBC

*BABCOCK:             -1% FY'18 results in line, outlook measured.

*BARCLAYS:            -1% FT: Looking at potential mergers with banks including STAN.

*BOVIS HOMES:         0% trading in line, continues to see good demand for new homes.

*BRITVIC:               +2% H1 results in line to touch better, FY'18 outlook in line, strong into.

*FAROE PETROLEUM:      0% commits to Brasse East Well in North Sea.

*JULIUS BAYER:           +1% 4-month interim in line to touch better, AUM ahead.

*M&S:                        +1% FY results headline better on PBT, Food light but margin better.

*RIO TINTO:                -1% confirmed in talks with Indonesia, $3.5B the figure cited.

*SEVERN TRENT:             0% FY'18 EPS ahead, numbers in line.

*STANDARD CHARTERED:   +2% FT: Looking at potential mergers with banks including STAN.

*WPP:                         -1% WSJ: OMNICOM said to win HSBC Global Media buying account.

*ZPG:                          +1% H1 earnings touch better, higher revenue growth

 

Macq Indications:

 

* Barclays- Said to be exploring merger with Standard Chartered (FT). +3%

* Bovis- Solid trading update; cash return inline. Unch

* Britvic- Rev’s up 4.5%, Strong growth in Q2. Too early to assess impact of soft drink tax levy. +1%

* Great Portland- EPRA NAV up 5.8% to 845p, confident outlook. Unch

* IG Group- Reassuring trading update, FY net Rev expected c.£565m (v sml beat), stock has travelled well into this update. Unch

* M&S- 4Q LFL clothing-and-home unit sales -3.4% (cons. -1.3%); 4Q -0.6% LFL food sales (cons. +1%); FY underlying pretax profit £580.9m (cons. GBP568m). -3%

* Miners- Oil -1.7% from our close yesterday, taking all commod’s lower. -1%

* Rio’s- Press reports suggesting a potential sale of Grasberg to PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium for US$3.5bn. AU Line unch vs our close. 

* Severn Trent- Good results. beat at operating profit and EPS level, RORE up to 11.5% real, and ODIs are a big beat - now at 2.3%. Unch

* Softcat- Strong trading update; Will deliver FY results above expectations. +5%

* Stan Chartered- Said to be exploring merger with Barclays. (FT). +3%

* Wood Group- Wins Biotech Facility contract until 2020. +0.5% 

* WPP- HSBC has moved its global media account to Omnicom from flagging WPP, following a review. -1-2%

* Zalando- No1 shareholder Kinnevik says Zalando core name for them, AGM Today. +1%

 

CS

Babcock       +1%    Revs 5.36bln cons 5.37bln PBT 512.5mln cons 5104.3mln


Barclays     -1-2%   Barclays has explored potential merger of Stan Char, FT


Bovis         M/P    Market conditions remain robust, on track to deliver


Britvic      +1-2%   1H revs 733.2mln vs cons 721.4mln EPS 21.2p vs cons 19.3p


Cosmo        -25%    Receives CRL from FDA regarding Methylene Blue MMX NDA


IG Group      M/P    Trading update ahead of CMD inline


Julius Baer  +1-2%   IMS - AUM CHF401bn cons CHF399bn, gross margin ahead


Lem Holding   +1%    FY17 Turnover 1% ahead, FY EBIT 1% ahead, outlook inline


M&S          +1-2%   PBT beat, margin guidance better


Miners       -0.5%   Copper -0.55%, Brent -1.60%, Iron Ore -1.10%, China -0.80%


Mittal       -0.5%   Trump Is Targeting 10% Cut in EU Steel, Aluminum Exports


Oils          -1%    US API -1.3m barrels vs est -2.8m. Brent 1.6% to $79.05


Rio           M/P    Ready to accept a $3.5 billion deal with Indonesia


Severn Trent +0.5%   FY revs GBP1.69B est GBP1.73B, Op profit inline


Softcat      +2-3%   Strong update - Maintained the momentum


SSAB         -0.5%   Trump Is Targeting 10% Cut in EU Steel, Aluminum Exports


Stan Char    +4-5%   Barclays has explored a potential merger, FT


Thyssen      -0.5%   Trump Is Targeting 10% Cut in EU Steel, Aluminum Exports


UBS          +0.5%   Positive read from Julius Baer numbers


Vedanta      -0.5%   Numbers inline with previous report


WPP           -1%    HSBC moves Global Media account to Omnicom's PHD, WSJ