British stocks edged lower at the open on Friday, while the pound dipped below $1.34 but remained broadly firm, and wider European markets traded in the red.
- Gold Holds Near Record Highs as Fed Policy, Geopolitical Risks Support Prices
- Gold Price Today Slips as Profit-Taking, Lower Geopolitical Tensions Hit Demand
- Blistering Metals Rally: Gold, Silver & Copper Hit Record Highs
- CME Group to Launch 100-Ounce Silver Futures as Retail Demand Hits Record
- TCS May Continue Layoffs, 30,000 Jobs Cut in 6 Months
As of 0814 GMT, the blue-chip index FTSE 100 fell 0.2% and the British pound rose 0.1% against the dollar to 1.33.
DAX index in Germany dropped 0.2%, the CAC 40 in France fell 0.05%.
FTSE 100 round up
M J Gleeson Group Ltd (LON:GLEG) on Friday said it sold 848 homes in the first half of fiscal 2026, a 6% increase from 801 units in the same period a year earlier, confirming that full-year results are expected to be in line with market expectations.
The company reported that net reservation rates at its Gleeson Homes division rose to 0.75 per site per week, up from 0.55 in the first half of 2025. When excluding bulk reservations, the rate was 0.44.
In other corporate news, Character Group (LON:CCT) provided a trading update ahead of its Annual General Meeting on Friday, revealing that sales in the four months leading to Christmas 2025 were approximately 11% below the same period in 2024. Despite projecting lower first-half sales ending February 28, 2026, the toy, game, and giftware distributor expects second-half improvements.
Character Group anticipates flat revenue for the 2026 financial year compared to 2025, but projects that profits before tax and highlighted items will more than double due to improvements in product mix and portfolio enhancements.
Genus PLC (LON:GNS), a global animal genetics company, announced strong performance in the first half of fiscal year 2026, with results exceeding management expectations. The company expects to report first half adjusted profit before tax of approximately £50 million in actual currency, excluding a milestone payment. Including the milestone payment, the figure rises to approximately £55.6 million.
Following this performance, Genus now anticipates its full-year 2026 adjusted profit before tax to be moderately above the top end of current market expectations, which range from £82.7 million to £85.0 million.
Ninety One PLC (LON:N91), the independent investment manager, reported assets under management (AUM) of £159.8 billion as of December 31, 2025. This represents an increase from £152.1 billion reported on September 30, 2025, and a rise from £130.2 billion recorded on December 31, 2024. The dual-listed company will publish its Q4 2026 AUM update on April 16, 2026.
In media news, the BBC is set to enter a major content deal with Alphabet Inc’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) YouTube, according to the Financial Times, citing people close to the negotiations. The deal will see the British broadcaster begin making shows for YouTube audiences, which will also be featured on the BBC’s own digital platforms.
The agreement could be announced as soon as next week. The broadcaster has so far largely used YouTube to release trailers and clips to promote its shows in the UK.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of individual analysts or brokerage firms and do not represent the views of GoldSilverReports.com. Investors are strongly advised to consult certified financial experts before making any investment or trading decisions.
| Follow us on |
| Telegram, Whatsapp , Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google Business Profile and Truth Social. |