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FTSE 100 closes in the red as US markets tumble amid continued virus fears
The UK blue-chip index closed down over 32 points at 7,403, while FTSE 250 slumped over 86 points at 21,780
Company
Pearson PLC
LON:PSON
Pearson is an international media company with market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing.
307 stories · page 2 of 4
Archive
Post-election momentum to be confirmed by flash manufacturing PMIs; Pearson results eyed
The PMIs could give clarity on any potential rate cut by the Bank of England
Pearson falls as UBS no longer optimistic about turnaround
The Swiss bank’s share price target was slashed to 600p from 820p
Pearson underwhelms again as US arm struggles
In December, John Fallon announced his intention to retire once a replacement as chief executive is appointed.
Pearson faces "deep-rooted challenges" as CEO joins FTSE exodus
The educational publisher said it will consider potential new CEO candidates from within the company and as well as external options, of which there are many after the flood of FTSE 100 departures this year
Pearson boss steps down as final stake sold in Penguin
After agreeing to sell its 25% stake in the consumer book publisher to partner Bertelsmann, the FTSE 100 group plans to return £350mln via a share buy-back
Pearson selling "seems to be over" says Deutsche Bank
Last month the FTSE 100-listed firm issued a profit warning due to weaker US higher education business
Pearson plunges to 18-month low after warning on weak US courseware
The third quarter was "significantly weaker than we expected" in this area, said chief executive John Fallon
Pearson encouraged by stabilising sales as digital shift accelerates
Underlying revenues for the first half of the year were up 2% to £1.8bn, with adjusted operating profits growing 30% to £144mln
Pearson stops the presses with shift to “digital first” strategy
Under the new model, Pearson's 1,500 US textbook titles will be published as eBooks first, with students able to rent print copies if they choose to
ShoreCap upgrades Pearson as digital transformation gains traction
“Although the company has a few issues to overcome, most of its underlying businesses appear to be gaining traction”
Pearson returns to sales growth, trims earnings guidance after sale
"We are off to a strong start to the year, having laid good foundations in 2018"
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes just in red as crude price decline hits resource stocks
The UK blue-chip index finished down nearly six points at 7,428 on Friday
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City set for unusually busy Friday with RBS leading the way
Alongside RBS, AstraZeneca, Just Eat, WPP and Pearson are all due to publish first-quarter trading updates on Friday
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes at near seven month high as no news is deemed good news
The UK blue-chip index finished up around 63 points at 7,523
Archive
Once Easter is over, a plethora of blue-chip big guns are set to report trading updates and results
The Week Ahead will bring updates from the likes of Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, plus drugs giant AstraZeneca, and media groups WPP, Pearson and WPP
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in positive territory, boosted by better-than-expected US March jobs figures as Brexit uncertainty continues
Mid-cap cousin FTSE 250 was also lower, shedding around 56 points at 19,507
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Lloyds and other ex-dividends to knock 11 points off FTSE 100 on quiet Thursday in the City
Away from the ex-divs, Saga, Electrocomponents and EntertainmentOne are all due to come to the market with trading updates or results
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US jobs to provide main focus, though UK PMIs still key as Brexit SNAFU continues
Aside from the UK and US data - and Brexit - corporate news in the week ahead will include updates from blue-chip budget airline easyjet and Ladbrokes Coral owner GVC Holdings
JPMorgan ups Pearson to ‘overweight’, raises estimates on stronger higher education growth, better operational gearing
JPMorgan’s analysts pointed out that Pearson is moving to a better business model as it migrates from print to digital, from ownership to access, and to a simplified and scalable platform for growth
British Land chairman to step down at July AGM
Gildersleeve has served as chairman of the FTSE 100 property developer since January 2013 after having previously joined as a non-executive director in 2008
Pearson says it expects sales to stabilise this year before growing again in 2020 as it posts in-line 2018 profit
The FTSE 100-listed firm reported an 8% rise in adjusted operating profit for the year to 31 December 2018 to £546mln despite seeing its total underlying revenue fall 1% year-on-year
FTSE 100 closes higher on trade talk optimism; miners big winners
President Trump is due to sit down for talks with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at around 7.30pm UK time
Archive
Pearson’s US higher education division set to continue recent struggles
Pearson’s US higher education business has been struggling for a while now with declining textbook sales and the transition to digital learning
Pearson to sell US K12 courseware business for US$250mln in focus shift to digital education
The FTSE 100-listed firm said Nexus will pay an initial US$25mln and then a further US$225mln via a vendor loan note due in the next three to five years for the business
Archive
Banking results to flow faster, with Barclays, Lloyds, and HSBC all set to report 2018 numbers
Aside from the banking results, the week ahead will bring updates from other blue-chips firms such as BAE Systems, Anglo American, Pearson, and Reckitt Benckiser
Moneysupermarket.com up as full-year numbers accompanied by additional cash return, chairman news
For the year ended 31 December 2018, the FTSE 250-listed group saw its adjusted underlying earnings (EBITDA) increase by 2% to £129.4mln, a touch above forecasts
Pearson weak as revenues continue to decline, with higher cost savings to support 2019 profits
The FTSE 100-listed firm estimates adjusted operating profit of between £590mln and £640mln for the current year and anticipates cost savings of £330mln, ahead of the £300mln target
Archive
FTSE 100 closes lower amid more political noise; Pearson biggest laggard
The UK's blue-chip index closed down around 32 points at 6,862 on the day
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UK data and Brexit in focus as markets poised to digest fallout of deal vote
The result of Parliament's vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal, which is predicted to be defeated, will be at the forefront of the market's mind come Wednesday morning
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Brexit, UK inflation the main focus but retail and housebuilder updates continue to flow
Aside from the Brexit merry-go-round, the Week Ahead will bring UK inflation and retail sales numbers, plus updates from the likes of AB Foods, Persimmon, Bovis Homes, and Whitbread
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100: The good, the BATS and the Ocado in 2018
For Ocado, it was a case of "eat my shorts" as short sellers got burnt while for BATS, not enough cigarettes got burnt as e-cigarettes rose in popularity
A fifth of FTSE 100 firms set to lose CEOs to retirement when Britain adjusts to life after Brexit
Rico Back, 64, is the oldest chief executive on the FTSE 100 after joining Royal Mail in early 2018
Pearson downgraded to ‘hold’ by Shore Capital following recent share price rally
The broker said that since it had upgraded the group to ‘buy’ on 17 October, the share price had risen around 17% and outperformed the market by 7%
FTSE 100 closes in red as Wall Street shares lag; Brexit exhaustion
The UK blue-chip benchmark finished down over 27 points at 7,026, while the FTSE 250 closed down over 52 points at 18,961.
Pearson revenue flat in 9-month trading update, still sees underlying profit growth
Pearson still expects 2018 adjusted operating profit in the range of £520mln to £560mln
FTSE 100 closes in the red as May set to address EU27
The FTSE 100 falls 35 points to 7,025, while Dow falls more than 300 points
RELX upgraded to ‘overweight’ by Barclays as valuation gap reopens following share underperformance
After the recent underperformance and a 2.5% upgrade to its earnings per share (EPS) forecasts, Barclay’s analysts said they now saw “good value” at a 16.7x P/E ratio
Archive
FTSE 100 closes firmly higher as investors fret less on China/US relations
The UK blue-chip benchmark closed up over 58 points at 7,556, while its mid-cap cousin FTSE 250 added almost 142 points
Investments and investor services
Lloyds and HSBC go ex-div, but has the BBQ summer saved Kingfisher’s first half?
Investors in the B&Q owner will be hoping for a BBQ boost sufficient to offset the springtime freeze.
Archive
Heatwave should provide a lift for BBQ and garden products at retailer Kingfisher
Aside from the DIY retailer's numbers, the Week Ahead diary includes updates from miner Antofagasta, and motor insurers Admiral and esure, plus a raft of key UK data
Great Western Mining lifted by expansion in land position
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers in London on Friday
Pearson posts better-than-expected first-half results, on track to return to underlying full-year profit growth
The FTSE 100-listed firm posted half-year adjusted operating profit of £107mln, flat on the first-half of 2017 but up 46% on an underlying basis and well ahead of the consensus forecast for £85mln
FTSE 100 closes higher, boosted by earnings and weaker pound
In London, FTSE 100 added over 38 points to finish at 7,701 - that was up on the week too, marginally - by 0.29%.
Archive
BT investors 'flying blind' as it reports first quarter results without net adds
Jefferies reckons the key focus for BT's quarterly results will be on the business and public sector division following a poor performance last year
Pearson out in the cold as Deutsche Bank takes a shine to information providers
The information publishing sector is in rude health, according to Deutsche Bank
Builders and building materials
Bovis Homes and Persimmon lower as mortgage rate rise looms
The house-builders continue to make money hand over fist in an environment that seems to have been cultivated to maximise their profitability but profitability may have peaked
Pearson shares fall on Barclays downgrade
In a note to clients, analysts at Barclays said Pearson faces many challenges and they have some concerns that there are more downside risks
Pearson gets first quarter lift but brokers say it is too early to tell if it has turned the corner
The first quarter is not especially significant for Pearson, accounting for around one-fifth of full-year revenues and roughly one-tenth of US higher education courseware revenues
Pearson up after saying on course to meet expectations as it reports 1% rise in first-quarter underlying revenue
The FTSE 100-listed educational publishing group said growth in North America and its Core business was partially offset by a decline in its Growth segment due to the phasing of sales in South African school courseware
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 strengthens following wishy-washy US jobs data
It's the first Friday of the month, so naturally much of the attention was on the US non-farm payroll report.
FTSE 100 closes firmly higher despite disappointing service sector stats
The UK bluechip-benchmark closed over 165 points higher at 7,199, while the FTSE 250 added over 311 points at 19,576
Archive
British Airways owner IAG and rival easyJet expected to continue March airline traffic boost
The day ahead includes March traffic from blue chip airlines easyJet PLC and British Airways owner International Airlines Group PLC, plus a trading update from Electrocomponents PLC
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Topps Tiles, IAG, easyJet, Electrocomponents and US jobs in focus after Easter break
The week ahead includes interims from Topps Tiles, traffic statistics from easyJet and IAG, a trading statement from Electrocomponents and the US non-farm payrolls report
Pearson swings to full year profit as restructuring efforts pay off
Pearson said it is on track to deliver £300mln of annualised cost savings by 2020 under its restructuring plan
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes in the red as RBS and IAG slump, but the FTSE 250 holds on to gains
The FTSE 100 was dragged lower by falls in the Royal Bank of Scotland and British Airways owner IAG
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Blue chip banking finale due on Friday with full-year numbers from Royal Bank of Scotland
Day ahead includes full-year numbers from FTSE 100-listed Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Standard Life Aberdeen PLC, Pearson PLC, and FTSE 250 bookmaker William Hill PLC
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Could price-to-sales be the key to identifying blue-chips on the recovery trail?
Since the "bombed out" virtual portfolio bit the dust, we've lacked a stock filter that identifies recovery stocks; once again drawing on the simple ideas of Michael O'Higgins ("Dogs of the Dow"), John Harrington takes a look at the price-t
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Banks to feature strongly in deluge of blue chip earnings, including Lloyds, RBS, Barclays
Week ahead includes a deluge of blue chip results, notably from the banking sector, including numbers from HSBC PLC, Barclays PLC, Lloyds Banking Group PLC, and Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Pearson stabilises but sees another flat year ahead
Revenues fell 2% on an underlying basis with North America 4% lower
Archive
FTSE 100 closes lower for third day in a row
The fall-out from the Carillion collapse continued, the US market saw more volatility, meanwhile, Bitcoin continued to slump testing US$10,000.
Archive
Burberry and Pearson both have lots to do to confound sceptics
Luxury trench coat maker Burberry has a new boss and investors will be looking for signs that his plans for a transformation are starting to bear fruit
Archive
Coffee break eyed at Whitbread as retail trading updates continue to flow
Week ahead includes trading updates from Whitbread PLC, Associated British Foods PLC, Experian PLC, Royal Mail Group PLC, William Hill PLC, Burberry PLC, plus UK inflation and retail sales data
Education giant Pearson sells off Wall Street English language teaching unit
A group of funds linked to Baring Private Equity Asia and Citic Capital have stumped up US$300mln for the division,
Pearson shares head lower as it nets “paltry” US$100mln from sale of Wall Street English business
Pearson is selling the unit to a group of funds for US$300mln but it will only cut its debt by US$100mln or so though due to various costs and the fact that US$150mln of cash will stay with WSE
FTSE 100 closing in on record high; Pearson top riser
FTSE 100 closed at 7,542, below last Thursday’s closing high of 7,556.24 while the Dow soared above the 23,000 level today
Greatland Gold surges again after Ernest Giles project extension move
A look at some of the biggest risers and fallers today in London
Pearson bucks the trend with profits upgrade
It said while the structural problems in US higher education were likely to “persist” in the medium-term, there had been some temporary respite
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 ends in the red amid Brexit jitters and rise in UK inflation
The FTSE 100 index closed down 10.8 at 7,516 on the day
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ASOS's guidance for current year the main focus
We already know revenues for the year just gone will be at the top end of analysts' forecasts
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UK inflation and jobs data to show real wages remain under pressure
The Week Ahead includes economic data on UK jobs, inflation and retail sales along with full year results from ASOS and Bellway and trading updates from Travis Perkins, Merlin Entertainments, Unilever and Intercontinental Hotels Group
Pearson heads higher as Exane upgrades to ‘outperform’, but Deutsche Bank is less convinced
Exane analysts think the share price could head 20% higher, while Deutsch Bank’s number crunchers think it could head 20% lower
FTSE 100 rises sharply despite Provident Financial nightmare
The FTSE 100 rose 63 points to 7,382 and the pound has slipped amid Brexit fears
What’s in store for Kingfisher investors on Thursday?
The B&Q owner's French business has overshadowed recent decent performances, will it blight the next figures?
Pearson sells Global Education business to Chinese firm Puxin for around USD$80mln
The FTSE 100-listed firm said GEDU, a provider of English language training and test preparation for Chinese students wishing to study abroad, generated revenue of £78mln and had an adjusted operating loss of £4mln.
Petrofac gets Oman contract boost; Anglo African Oil & Gas up on acquisition completion
A look at some of the biggest risers and faller in London today ...
Pearson announces plans to cut a further 3,000 jobs and slash the dividend as turnaround enters next phase
Operationally, Pearson, which sells textbooks and electronic coursework, still appears to be bogged down
FTSE 100 receives boost from US jobless figures
The blue-chip index closed at 7,512, up 37 points on the day and 143 on the week
Pearson shares drop as Berenberg expects sale of Penguin Random House stake to hit earnings
Berenberg has reiterated a 'sell' rating on Pearson and cut its target price to 490p from 605p
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher as Chinese data bolsters miners
The blue-chip index has traded sideways since about 8.30 this morning
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 finishes strongly as dovish Fed chair Yellen reassures
The Footsie closed 87.17 higher, or 1.19% to 7,416...
Pearson raises US$1bn by selling 22% of Penguin Random House
Pearson's stake will be reduced from 47% to 25%. It plans to invest £300mln of the proceeds in a share buyback programme
FTSE 100 closes 40 points down as retailers weigh
The market chose to interpret Broadbent's comments as a vote for the status quo
City bears unconvinced despite Pearson rally on more restructuring moves
Liberum Capital analyst Ian Whittaker pointed out that Pearson's profits “have gone backwards despite their previous £650m+ of cost savings"
Pearson leaps as it considers sale of US school courseware business, launches another cost cutting drive
The FTSE 100-listed group announced a strategic review of its K12 courseware publishing business and said it aims to cut its cost base by £300mln a year by the end of 2019
FTSE 100 rises as US non-farm payrolls report beats expectations
London's top tier index rose 22 points to 7,270.88 at 2.38pm after a better-than-expected US non-farm payrolls report
Archive
Pearson's CEO to face investor ire at AGM, but first-quarter update unlikely to surprise
Day ahead: Pearson PLC, International Consolidated Airlines Group PLC (LON:IAG), InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG), US jobs data ...
FTSE 100 dragged lower as Brexit worries whirl; Sainsbury's weighs
The FTSE 100 closed 15.52 down at 7,234 with Sainsbury's and mining shares under pressure
Pearson and other "cash then crash" stocks
Don't panic! If your portfolio of blue-chips has taken a battering this morning, chances are its because of stocks going "ex-dividend". John Harrington explains.
FTSE 100 finishes lower as Fed's easy money set to end
The index of blue-chip shares succumbed to selling pressure
Pearson facing enduring headwinds in key US education business
Half the brokers that cover Pearson are neutral on the stock, and a third are sellers.
Pearson confirms massive 2016 loss after huge write-downs for US education market
The FTSE 100-listed firm, which has issued five profit warnings in four years, reported a statutory loss for the year of £2.335bn including an impairment of goodwill of £2.548bn.
FTSE 100 ends lower on the week as loss-making RBS drags ticker south
London’s FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday, dragged lower by heavyweight loser RBS after it reported a ninth straight year of losses
Archive
Day ahead: RBS, StanChart last on banks' 2016 results roller coaster
RBS has already had a big boost this week after the majority taxpayer-owned bank confirmed on Monday that it has shelved plans to sell its Williams & Glyn chain.
Investments and investor services
FTSE closes flat as Unilever holds market back
The FTSE 100 ended flat on Monday as Unilever shares sank in the wake of Kraft Heinz saying it had abandoned its proposed merger which would have been one of the biggest in corporate history
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Week ahead: Housebuilders and banks dominate agenda with slew of earnings
Housebuilders and banks will take centre stage with a slew of London-listed corporate earnings to be published.
Investments and investor services
FTSE pares gains as sterling rises on rate talk
FTSE 100 stocks pared gains into the Tuesday close after sterling recovered against the US dollar
Pearson - Deutsche Bank slashes price target
The influential media team at Deutsche Bank has cut its price target for the stock by 130p to 600p.
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 shares drop as sterling gains
London's FTSE 100 hit reverse gear as the pound recovered a little of its mojo