1. Centrica agrees to 15-year LNG deal with Delfin
The largest domestic gas supplier in the UK through its British Gas and Scottish Gas brands, Centrica agreed to purchase one-million tonnes of LNG for the next 15 years on a free-on-board basis.
2. Lloyds and NatWest first major banks providing UK recovery loans
The new iteration of the scheme, lasting until June 2024, is designed to help businesses with turnover under £45mln access finance for investment, recovery, growth and managing cashflow.
3. Aviva hikes dividend 40%, year-end buyback planned
The life insurer and pension provider also said it anticipates launching share buyback at the end of the financial year, the size of which will be determined by the board later this year.
4. FTSE 100 ends back above 7,500
At the close, the UK blue-chip index was up 18.96 points, or 0.3% at 7,507.11, below the session peak of 7,520.72 but above the day’s low of 7,468.64 as US stocks rallied strongly following a below-forecast July CPI reading.
5. AIM sees £45bln wiped off value in first half
Surging inflation, ever-rising interest rates and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted edgy investors to sell – slashing the index’s market value to £105bn from £150bn at the start of January.
Tomorrow's agenda: M&G, Entain, plus many more (read here)