UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Sept. 24
Adds company news items, futures
Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening 50 points lower at 5,849 on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures down 1.21% ahead of cash market open.
* CINEWORLD: British cinema operator Cineworld CINE.L swung to a loss and said it may have to raise additional liquidity if it is pushed to shut its theatres again from government curbs on social gathering.
* MITCHELLS & BUTLERS: Mitchells & Butlers MAB.L said total sales for 51 weeks ended Sept. 19 fell 35%, due to store closures and sharp slump in demand amid widespread COVID-19 restrictions.
* SIG: SIG Plc SHI.L posted a first-half loss of 53.7 million pounds due to the coronavirus hit to construction activity, but the building materials supplier said its 2020 revenue would be modestly higher than prior forecast.
* SMITHS GROUP: Smiths Group SMIN.L reported a 26% fall in annual operating profit due to higher costs and a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, while the British engineering firm also said it would cut jobs as part of its restructuring plan.
* PETS AT HOME: British pet supplies retailer Pets At Home PETSP.L said it expects full-year pretax profit to be materially above market estimates due to easing lockdown restrictions.
* UNITED UTILITIES: Water supplier United Utilities UU.L warned of lower first-half revenue due to lower consumption by businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed regulatory revenue changes.
* GO-AHEAD: UK transport operator Go-Ahead GOG.L posted profits for the 12-months to 27 June slightly ahead of its guidance, and said that after the pandemic it was starting to run 90% of its services again.
* The UK blue-chip index .FTSE closed up 1.2% on Wednesday, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government had a "massive" package to protect jobs, offsetting concerns over new restrictions brought in to curb a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/
TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times PRESS/FT > Other business headlines PRESS/GB
(Reporting by Samantha Machado in Bengaluru)
((Samantha.machado@thomsonreuters.com))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.