Good morning, this is the market report this Thursday December 9th, you’re with me Katie Pilbeam.
It’s a negative start for London’s main market as investors weigh up the effects of the latest UK restrictions.
They include more mask-wearing, more working from home and proof of vaccination or Covid status at nightclubs and crowded indoor spaces.
Investors are also wary of Friday's US inflation figures, which could reinforce the idea of the Federal Reserve taking action to curb the growing pricing pressures in the economy.
And gas prices are rising across Europe after virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Biden warned Putin to expect severe economic penalties, including banking sanctions, should he invade Ukraine.
The biggest riser here in the capital so far is DS Smith PLC (LSE:SMDS) (DS Smith PLC (LSE:SMDS)) reporting an upbeat set of results. This is all due to demand for packaging as online shopping continues to boom. UP nearly up 3% as half year profits jumped 80% to £175mln.
Clipper Logistics PLC (LSE:CLG) (Clipper Logistics PLC (LSE:CLG)) has hiked its half-year dividend by 12.5% as it continued to grow sales and earnings at double-digit rates in 2021 and remain on track to meet full-year targets.
Horizonte Minerals PLC (AIM:HZM, TSX:HZM, OTC:HZMMF) (Horizonte Minerals PLC (AIM:HZM, TSX:HZM, OTC:HZMMF), Horizonte Minerals PLC (AIM:HZM, TSX:HZM, OTC:HZMMF), Horizonte Minerals PLC (AIM:HZM, TSX:HZM, OTC:HZMMF)) agreed to buy some new and unused ferronickel processing equipment, originally commissioned by Votorantim SA, for its Araguaia ferronickel project in Brazil.