Expert views
Commentary submitted by Russ Mould in their own words.
Back to profileBarclays profits surge 17% as investment bank cashes in on trading spurt
Barclays’ interim results did not get the same warm welcome as those of Unilever, even though the bank’s second-quarter pre-tax profit of £3.2 billion beat the consensus forecast of £3.1 billion, the board sanctioned a huge increase in the dividend and topped up the share buyback programme by another £1 billion and boss C.S. Venkatakrishan raised profits forecasts for the year.
Unilever hails best sales in more than a decade ahead of food business spin-off
Unilever’s shares shot to the top of the FTSE 100 leaderboard, and their highest mark since March, as the consumer goods giant’s first-half results pleased and chief executive Fernando Fernandez raised sales and profit expectations for 2026 overall.
DCC Energy to go private after agreeing £5.75 billion takeover
The £65.25p cash offer comes to £5.6 billion and means DCC Energy is the recipient of one of 11 £1b-plus bids tabled in the UK market this year.
Vodafone earnings boosted as cost-cutting leads to 1,200 job losses in Europe
Management now expects the company to reach the top end of its profits and cash flow guidance for the year to March 2027.
HSBC offloads Singapore life arm in £1.6 billion deal
These strategic moves are intended to lean into HSBC’s strengths and make it a more streamlined and focused business.
EasyJet profits nosedive 70% after £105m Iran war fuel cost hit
Having fallen sharply yesterday on fears tightened EU ownership rules might nix US bids for the airline, EasyJet recovered some ground despite reporting falling profit today.
British Gas owner Centrica plans overhaul with 1,300 job cuts over two years
The volatility in energy markets is creating some headaches for Centrica although the company still allowed for a generous increase in the dividend.
Bloomsbury set for payout from £1.1 billion Anthropic US copyright settlement
Investors will hope the launch of HBO’s TV adaptation of the Harry Potter series this Christmas can work some magic on book sales.
Ryanair profits hit by soaring jet fuel prices and fare cuts
Ryanair is better placed than many of its rivals.
Turnaround strategy is working, says Burberry, despite Iran war pressure
Burberry looked primed to strut its stuff based on one of its best quarters in years, but a cautious outlook and weak showing in certain markets saw the shares trip up on Friday.
Netflix posts higher Q2 results but shares drop after lukewarm forecast
Netflix’s latest quarterly numbers had investors reaching for the remote as its forward guidance raised fresh concerns about the company’s growth prospects.
Primark owner set for weaker profits as high gas prices to hit sugar arm
Associated British Foods’ conglomerate structure has helped to cushion the blow from a miserable showing from its agriculture arm and weaker sugar operations. The grocery and ingredients arms were resilient, and Primark has made a comeback. Normally the weak parts wouldn’t be something to worry about, but plans to spin off Primark means future setbacks in any one division could be more pronounced.