Unite reiterates FY25 guidance, Victrex H2 profits seen 'broadly similar' to H1
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Tuesday 08 Jul 2025
(Sharecast News) - LONDON PRE-OPEN
The FTSE 100 was expected to open 9.9 points lower ahead of the bell on Tuesday after wrapping up the previous session 0.19% weaker at 8,806.53.
STOCKS TO WATCH
Student accommodation provider Unite Group reiterated its FY25 guidance for adjusted EPRA earnings per share of 47.5p to 48.25p on Tuesday as it said it had seen "continuing momentum", with 85% of beds sold for the 2025/26 academic year. Unite stated the outlook for student demand was "strong", with 2% growth in applications from UK 18-year-olds and student visa applications up 29% over the first five months of the year.
Specialist polymer maker Victrex said second half underlying profits could be at a "broadly similar" level to the first as it continued to see a weaker-than-expected performance at its medical division, production issues at its new China plant and currency headwinds. "Overall Q3 trading saw continued volume momentum, offset by a softer than expected performance in medical and further adverse sales mix within sustainable solutions," said CEO Jakob Sigurdsson.
NEWSPAPER ROUND-UP
Bosses in the UK will be banned from using non-disclosure agreements to silence employees who have suffered harassment and discrimination in the workplace as part of the government's overhaul of workers' rights. Ministers will on Monday night table amendments to the government's employment rights bill to prohibit the widespread practice of using legally enforceable NDAs to conceal unacceptable behaviour at work. - Guardian
Corporate employees of Amazon were asked on Monday to volunteer their time to the company's warehouses to assist with grocery delivery as it heads into its annual discount spree known as Prime Day. In a Slack message reviewed by the Guardian that went to thousands of white-collar workers in the New York City area from engineers to marketers, an Amazon area manager called for corporate "volunteers to help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet". It is not clear how many took up the offer. - Guardian
A new wealth tax under Labour risks sparking an exodus of entrepreneurs from Britain, business chiefs have warned. Sir Rocco Forte, Sir Martin Sorrell and Sir Philip Hampton are urging Downing Street to ignore calls for a new levy, which they said would scare off the rich and damage growth. - Telegraph
A maternity-wear chain that joined the London stock market listing boom in 2021 is on the brink of collapse, putting about 100 jobs at risk. Seraphine, worn by the Princess of Wales during all her three pregnancies, has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators from Interpath Advisory. - The Times
Investors back private equity firms because they buy a business, make it plumper and sell it on for a profit. Blackstone, KKR, CVC Capital Partners and others are collectively sitting on unsold companies worth about $3.6trn, according to a recent report by Bain & Company, a consultancy firm. - The Times
US CLOSE
Major indices headed south on Monday as traders returned from the Independence Day long weekend to a number of tariff-related headlines.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.94% at 44,406.36, while the S&P 500 lost 0.79% to 6,229.98, and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.92% weaker at 20,412.52.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
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