FTSE 100 lost 60 points to 7,239 in early trading. The market followed the losses made in the US yesterday and Asia overnight.
Barratt Development saw its annual profits tumble 21% as the rising cost of cladding repairs bit into margins. It did, however, increase housing completions by 4%. UK house prices rose in August, reversing July’s fall. Despite this, the annual pace of growth slowed to 11.5%.
WH Smith maintained expectations as its travel-based outlets continued to recover from Covid. Travel-related sales are “comfortably” exceeding pre-Covid levels.
Accesso said its contract to provide solutions to theme parks in Australia has been extended to at least 2027. The agreement is with Village Roadshow (ASX:VRL) Theme Parks, Australia's largest theme park operator.
Synairgen reported "positive data" from its assessment of SNG001. SNG001 is an inhaled substance for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a respiratory viral infection.
Destiny Pharma received positive feedback for its phase III clinical trial of a new antibiotic treatment. The European Medicines Agency said a single, final-stage study of NTCD-M3 will be enough for it to make a marketing authorisation application.