FTSE 100 consolidated after its recent surge even though there was more positive vaccine news and England’s lockdown ended. London’s blue-chip index was flat at 6,385 in early trading. The UK has become the first country to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech.
Rollout will begin next week among healthcare staff and vulnerable people. England’s second lockdown has ended but 55mln people now live in the strictest two tiers. Non-essential shops are reopening across the country but restaurants in tier 3 can only serve food to take away.
G4S PLC (LON:GFS) has forced a higher cash offer out of hostile bidder GardaWorld. The Canadian suitor raised its offer to 235p per share from the previous 190p, valuing the UK security group at £3.7bn.
Belvoir Group PLC (LON:BLV), the UK's largest property franchise, said trading is ahead of even its pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) expectations. Agreed house sales are running significantly ahead of the previous record level, it added.
Mining services group Capital Limited (LON:CAPD) has landed what it described as a transformative new deal with Centamin at the Sukari gold mine in Egypt. Incremental revenues will be up to US$260mln over a four-year period and Capital is raising £22mln to get ready.
IXICO PLC’s (LON:IXI) full-year earnings more than doubled as revenues hit record levels thanks to multi-year contracts for phase III trials of brain illness treatments. Revenues have grown at 25% or more for four years running.
