Category: Market News

UK equities moved lower on Wednesday, mirroring declines across major European markets, while the pound continued to soften and fresh data showed inflation cooled in October—though not quite as much as economists had expected.

By 08:54 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, and the pound had slipped 0.2% against the US dollar to 1.31. On the continent, Germany’s DAX also lost 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.6%.

UK inflation slows, but remains slightly above forecasts

Official figures released Wednesday showed annual UK inflation easing to 3.6% in October, down from 3.8% in September but marginally above the consensus estimate of 3.5%.
The reading marks the lowest level since May, though it still sits well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. The smaller-than-expected decline raises the chances the central bank will cut rates at its final policy meeting of the year next month.

FTSE 100 movers

In corporate developments, WH Smith PLC (LSE:SMWH) said CEO Carl Cowling has resigned with immediate effect following an independent Deloitte review that uncovered issues in its North American division. Cowling has also stepped down from the board.

Smiths Group PLC (LSE:SMIN) reported 3.5% organic revenue growth for the quarter to 31 October and announced a new £1 billion share buyback to be completed by the end of 2026, building on its existing £500 million programme. The initiative will return “a large portion” of proceeds from the sale of Smiths Interconnect to Molex Electronics Solutions.

Workspace Group PLC (LSE:WKP) posted underlying net rental income of £58.6 million, unchanged year over year, while trading profit after interest slipped 6.4% to £30.6 million. EPRA NTA fell 6.8% to £7.21 after a 3% like-for-like valuation drop. Occupancy declined 2.5 percentage points to 80%, with the rent roll down 3.3%.

Jet2 PLC (LSE:JET2) delivered record interim results, with group revenue rising 5% to £5.34 billion for the six months to 30 September. Operating profit increased 2% to £715.2 million, and statutory profit after tax reached £600.2 million.

Severn Trent PLC (LSE:SVT) reported a 56.5% jump in profit before interest and tax to £466.2 million for the half-year to 30 September, alongside an 18% rise in revenue to £1.44 billion. The water utility also confirmed a planned CEO transition in early 2026. Shares were down 1.2% in early trade.

British Land Company PLC (LSE:BLND) recorded an 8% rise in underlying profit to £155 million for the six months ending 30 September, with underlying EPS edging up 1% to 15.4p. The company raised its dividend by 1% to 12.32p per share.

Severn Trent (LSE:SVT) delivered a strong first-half performance, reporting sharply higher profits and record investment levels, while also announcing that a change in leadership will take effect in early 2026. Shares slipped 1.2% in early London trading.

For the six months to 30 September, profit before interest and tax rose 56.5% to £466.2 million, supported by an 18% increase in revenue to £1.44 billion. The company said the improvement was driven by stronger top-line growth and disciplined management of financing costs.

Capital investment reached £769 million, up 15.5% year-on-year, as the group ramped up spending across its largest-ever infrastructure programme. Severn Trent now expects its regulated asset base to climb 13% to £15.4 billion by year-end.

“The next five years will be a period of exceptional growth for Severn Trent. We have made a strong start to our largest-ever investment programme, frontloading our investments to deliver faster for customers,” said CEO Liv Garfield.
“Thanks to these early investments, we’ve upgraded our forecasts for this year’s performance incentives… and delivered an unprecedented sixth consecutive year of top-rated environmental performance.”

The group increased its expected Outcome Delivery Incentive (ODI) reward for FY26 to at least £40 million, up from £25 million previously, and reaffirmed its regulatory return target of around 13% for the current year.

Looking ahead, Severn Trent aims to double adjusted EPS by FY28 and grow its regulatory asset base to £21.9 billion by the end of the 2025–2030 AMP8 period. The company also expects to achieve roughly 90% of its ODI metrics this year, while targeting large reductions in storm overflow discharges and continued progress on leakage.

Alongside the results, Severn Trent confirmed that Garfield will step down at the end of the year. James Jesic, currently capital and commercial services director, will assume the role of CEO on 1 January 2026.

Jefferies analyst Ahmed Farma said the upgraded guidance — including “ODIs of at least £40m, up from £25m previously” — indicates more than 5% potential upside to consensus profit before tax. He also noted that “the focus today [is] on CEO change,” calling Garfield’s departure significant given her long tenure and industry standing.

Separately, RBC Capital Markets analyst Alexander Wheeler described the half-year figures as “a strong start to AMP8,” saying the boosted ODI expectations and improved cost efficiency reflect solid business momentum. However, he cautioned that Garfield’s upcoming exit “will likely overhang the shares in the short term,” even though the broker considers Jesic “a great option to replace Liv going forward.”

Workspace Group (LSE:WKP), the U.K. real estate investment trust, reported underlying net rental income of £58.6 million for the first half — unchanged from a year earlier — while trading profit after interest slipped 6.4% to £30.6 million.

EPRA NTA declined 6.8% to £7.21, reflecting a 3% like-for-like valuation drop, and the interim dividend was maintained at 9.4 pence.

Occupancy remained the key area of weakness. Like-for-like occupancy fell 2.5 percentage points to 80%, in line with guidance, following two large customer exits earlier in the year. The rent roll was down 3.3%.
However, rent per square foot held firm at £47.55, and the company pointed to improving operational momentum into autumn, with October conversion rates rising to 17%. CEO Lawrence Hutchings said the team is “seeing encouraging signs that the actions we are taking are positively impacting customer retention and conversion.”

He added that “Following the launch of our Fix, Accelerate and Scale strategy in June, we have made steady operational progress through the first half of the year in what remains a challenging market,” reiterating that “As expected, occupancy was lower in the first half, but we are seeing encouraging signs that the actions we are taking are positively impacting customer retention and conversion.”

Workspace continued to recycle capital, completing or exchanging £52.4 million in disposals toward its £200 million two-year goal. Its refurbishment programme is advancing, with pilot projects at The Leather Market and Busworks delivering higher customer satisfaction and early signs of occupancy improvement.

The group also expanded its collaboration with Qube, securing a 20-year lease for 32,000 square feet at The Old Dairy and taking a £3 million minority stake.

Jefferies analyst Mike Prew described the update as “softer but as expected,” saying the Fix, Accelerate and Scale strategy is beginning to “take shape.”

Sage Group (LSE:SGE) posted stronger-than-expected FY25 results on Wednesday, with revenue matching market forecasts and EBIT coming in 2% ahead of consensus.

The UK-based business software provider — known for its ERP and accounting solutions for small and mid-sized companies — also unveiled a new £300 million share buyback. The figures imply an EBIT margin of 23.9%, compared with the consensus estimate of 23.5%.

Organic recurring revenue grew 9.4%, a slight improvement from the 9.3% rate reported for the first nine months and broadly aligned with expectations. Organic ARR, described by management as the primary engine of future revenue, increased 9.9%. Analysts at Jefferies noted that the third-quarter figure was “below 10%” but signalled stabilisation given the tough comparison with a strong fourth quarter in 2024.

One soft spot in the update was NCA, which slipped to £185 million from a recent trend of around £190 million — a point Jefferies expects will draw attention in the earnings call.

Looking ahead, Sage expects organic revenue growth of 9% or more in FY26, ahead of the 8.7% projected by analysts. The guidance also points to further margin expansion, leading Jefferies analysts Charles Brennan, Philipp Adam, and Hannes Leitner to argue that the FY26 consensus margin forecast of 24% appears cautious.

“With mild upward pressure on forecasts and a cautious investors-set-up, the shares would normally rally,” the analysts said. “But we have not seen many Software companies sustain gains, even on better-than-expected results.”

Sage, headquartered in Newcastle, serves roughly three million customers through a global network of over 30,000 value-added resellers and 40,000 accounting firms.

Jefferies reaffirmed its “buy” rating on the stock with a target price of 1,320p, implying a 23% upside compared with Tuesday’s closing level of 1,076p.

Jet2 PLC (LSE:JET2) reported record financial performance for the first half of 2025, fuelled by rising passenger volumes and continued expansion, including the launch of a new operational base at London Gatwick. Revenue increased 5% to £5,342.2 million, and basic earnings per share rose 8%. The company is pressing ahead with further growth through additional bases and new aircraft orders, while a £100 million share buyback signals strong confidence in its longer-term trajectory. Jet2’s adaptability to shifting consumer travel behaviour and its resilience across market cycles remain central to its ongoing success.

Jet2’s outlook is underpinned by robust financial results and an appealing valuation. Nonetheless, bearish technical indicators point to a downward trend in the share price, suggesting caution in the short term. The absence of recent earnings-call or major corporate-event data means these factors do not add further insight at present.

More about Jet2 PLC

Jet2 PLC is a leading UK travel and leisure group offering holiday packages and leisure flights. Renowned for its service-led, end-to-end holiday model, the company holds a strong market position as the UK’s largest tour operator and its third-largest airline.

ZOO Digital Group PLC (LSE:ZOO) released interim results for the six months to 30 September 2025, reporting a 19% decline in revenue to $22.4 million. Despite the top-line pressure, the company delivered an 18% uplift in adjusted EBITDA to $2.0 million and reduced its operating loss to $1.2 million, supported by a comprehensive cost-rationalisation programme and continued growth in media services. Cost-saving measures are now fully embedded, contributing to stronger gross margins and a positive cash EBITDA position. The business has also expanded its use of AI across workflows to improve efficiency and quality, and introduced a premium Fast Track service to speed up dubbing and subtitling turnaround times. Management remains optimistic about building market share and returning to revenue growth in FY27 as it strengthens customer relationships and broadens its international footprint.

ZOO Digital’s outlook remains constrained by ongoing financial challenges, including negative profitability and cash-flow pressures. Technical indicators lean neutral to slightly bearish, while valuation concerns persist due to negative earnings and the absence of a dividend. Limited insights from recent earnings calls or corporate events further temper visibility.

More about ZOO Digital

ZOO Digital Group PLC provides cloud-based localisation and digital media services for the global entertainment sector. Founded in 2001, the company operates from hubs including Los Angeles, London, and Dubai, serving major Hollywood studios and leading streaming platforms such as Disney, NBCUniversal, HBO, and Paramount. Its offering spans dubbing, subtitling, captioning, and media processing, supported by proprietary technology and a worldwide freelance network.

Afentra plc (LSE:AET) released a comprehensive operational and financial update, noting key progress across its portfolio. The company confirmed the award of the Block 3/24 licence with a 40% interest and reported continued movement toward completing the acquisition of Etu Energias, targeted for early 2026. Production levels remained stable, supported by substantial revenue from crude oil sales. Afentra also advanced its infrastructure investments and drilling preparations—measures aimed at boosting recovery rates and strengthening its long-term production profile in Angola. Governance was further enhanced with the appointment of Andrew Osborne as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee.

Afentra’s outlook is bolstered by strong financial performance marked by notable revenue and profit gains. Even so, bearish technical indicators moderate the near-term view. The stock screens as undervalued on a low P/E basis, offering potential upside, though the absence of a dividend may constrain interest for income-focused investors.

More about Afentra

Afentra plc is an Africa-focused upstream oil and gas company specialising in the acquisition of producing and development-stage assets. Working alongside divesting international oil companies and host governments, Afentra seeks to support a responsible and pragmatic energy transition across the region. The company holds a mix of operated and non-operated positions in Angola and Somaliland.

British Land Company plc (LSE:BLND) posted a solid set of half-year results for 2025, reporting a 4% uplift in like-for-like net rental income and an 8% increase in underlying profit. Administrative costs were reduced by 12%, helping to counterbalance higher funding expenses, while occupancy across the portfolio remained consistently high. The company continues to benefit from strategic decisions made in 2021, which have positioned it to capture favourable market trends. Management expects further earnings growth and continues to target a total accounting return of 8–10% across the cycle.

British Land’s outlook is supported by compelling valuation metrics and constructive technical signals, although some financial-performance volatility tempers the picture. With an appealing dividend yield and indications of undervaluation, the investment case remains strong—provided financial risks are managed carefully.

More about British Land Company plc

British Land Company plc is a major UK real estate operator specialising in prime London office campuses and large retail parks. The business is a leader in both segments, benefiting from limited supply of top-tier office space in Central London and continued demand for out-of-town retail destinations.

Ithaca Energy PLC (LSE:ITH) reported a solid financial and operational performance for the first nine months of 2025, driven by higher production levels and improved cost efficiency following the integration of Eni UK’s assets. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance and dividend commitments, highlighting continued emphasis on organic growth and disciplined, high-return investment—particularly across its expanding West of Shetland portfolio. These results reinforce Ithaca’s focus on boosting shareholder value and sustaining its role as a leading operator in the UK North Sea.

The company also announced a farm-in agreement with Shell UK, securing a 50% stake in the Tobermory gas discovery in the West of Shetland basin. This move further strengthens Ithaca’s strategic footprint in the region, supports UK energy security, and deepens its partnership with Shell. The deal aligns closely with the company’s longer-term ambitions, contributing to economic activity, job creation, and greater utilisation of its operational capabilities.

Ithaca’s outlook is underpinned by strong revenue momentum and efficient operations, though profitability remains challenged. Technical indicators point to bullish momentum, but elevated readings suggest potential overbought conditions. A high dividend yield adds appeal, while the negative P/E ratio highlights ongoing earnings pressures.

More about Ithaca Energy PLC

Ithaca Energy PLC is a major UK North Sea oil and gas producer focused on operational excellence, strategic expansion, and delivering value to shareholders. The company’s portfolio spans key producing assets and development opportunities, with a growing emphasis on the high-potential West of Shetland region.

Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) announced its planned acquisition of Curve, a London-based fintech known for its all-in-one digital wallet platform. The deal is intended to accelerate Lloyds’ digital transformation by integrating Curve’s technology across its services, ultimately enhancing payment functionality for its 28 million customers. The transaction is expected to complete in the first half of 2026 and is not anticipated to materially affect Lloyds’ financial outlook for 2025 or 2026. Even so, the move represents a major step forward in the bank’s strategy to solidify its leadership in digital financial services.

Lloyds’ broader outlook is supported by upbeat earnings-call sentiment and constructive technical momentum, indicating a bullish bias. While the group maintains generally stable financial performance, issues such as cash flow and leverage remain areas to watch. Valuation metrics appear reasonable, with a balanced P/E ratio and dividend yield contributing to a fair overall profile.

More about Lloyds Banking

Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK’s largest financial services institutions, providing a full suite of retail and commercial banking services. The group continues to invest heavily in digital innovation as part of its long-term strategy to deliver more flexible, technology-driven financial solutions to millions of customers across the country.