MARKET REPORT: Airlines avoid turbulence on gloomy day for stocks
Shares in British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus airline group IAG rose 4.7 percent, or 7.45p, to 167.45p as investors welcomed the resumption of dividend payments.
IAG last paid an interim dividend in 2019, just months before the pandemic grounded airlines around the world, causing financial chaos.
The dividend came amid stronger-than-expected second-quarter results as it scrapped a takeover of Spanish airline Air Europa. Panmure Liberum transport analyst Gerard Khoo said the resumption of dividends highlighted the strength of IAG’s cash generation and balance sheet.
He noted that it was the only airline whose earnings estimates he raised in this reporting round. But the overall mood was cautious as global markets tumbled, led by technical issues and fears of a U.S. recession.
The FTSE 100 fell 1.31 percent or 108.65 points to 8,174.71, while the FTSE 250 fell 2.95 percent or 632.88 points to 20,826.35.
Flying high: British Airways owner IAG climbed 4.7 percent
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, which has significant holdings in US chip stocks, lost 4.5 percent, or 38.4p, to 813.2p. US-focused investment firm Pershing Square was also a big faller, down 5.5 percent, or 208p, to 3,588p.
Japan-focused investors struggled after shares plunged in Tokyo. Fidelity Japan Trust, which has investments in Nikkei constituents, lost 7 percent, or 12p, to 160.5p, while Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon, which backs smaller companies, fell 3.7 percent, or 4.2p, to 111p.
Apart from technological issues, the share price of pharmaceutical company GSK rose 2.4 percent, or 36.5p, to 1,562.5p after news that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its Jemperli treatment in combination with chemotherapy and for its own use in adults with womb cancer.
But product testing and certification company Intertek fell 1.4 percent, or 70p, to 4,884p, despite saying it was on track to meet medium-term targets after improved margins boosted performance in the first half of the year.
And luxury group Burberry fell 4.9 percent, or 37.2p, to 730.2p after Italian shoe and leather goods company Salvatore Ferragamo reported a fall in profits.
Luxury carmaker Aston Martin also fell 4.1 percent, or 6.3p, to 145.9p after it announced it had raised £135 million through a debt issue as it prepared to ramp up sales.
Chief Financial Officer Doug Lafferty said the bond issuance came after encouraging feedback on the company’s first-half results.
Among small caps, NCC Group added 8.1 percent, or 11.8p, to 156.8p after it agreed to sell Fox Crypto, part of its cyber division in the Netherlands, for 77 million euros (£65.7 million). Lender Vector Capital rose 18.2 percent, or 5p, to 32.5p after it revealed a £3.7 million return to shareholders via a public offer of shares at 33p each, offsetting a drop in its half-year results. It will leave AIM after failing to access new equity on acceptable terms.
And Skinbio Therapeutics fell 3.5 percent, or 0.5p, to 13.75p as the life sciences company announced a private placement of shares at 10.5p each.
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