Shares News

LONDON (Reuters) - Scottish optical scanning firm Optos Plc (OPTS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said it had set its initial public offering price at 250 pence per share on Friday, valuing the firm at around 165 million pounds ($287 million). The price was at the upper end of the indicative 200-260p range it gave on January 30. The company said the float was expected to raise 30 million pounds from the issue of new shares, with the proceeds going towards broadening the company's product range,  ...

By Jonathan Cable LONDON (Reuters) - Compass Group Plc (CPG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's biggest caterer, said on Friday trading in the first four months of the year was in line with expectations, driven by new contracts secured in North America. "This is very much a case of 'steady as she goes'. We are pleased with our performance in both winning new business and in retaining existing contracts," Chief Executive Michael Bailey said in a statement. Shares in Compass, the biggest ...

LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in QinetiQ, a technology firm formed out of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), climbed over 5 percent on Friday as the company made its debut on the London Stock Exchange. Strong demand from investors led to the shares being priced at 200 pence each, near the top of a 165-205p price range set by QinetiQ at the start of its roadshow. By 8:19 a.m., the stock was up 5.5 percent at 211p, giving QinetiQ a stock market value of 1.37 billion pounds ($2.39 billion). That puts th ...

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (ANGJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's third biggest gold producer, reported an 81 percent jump in adjusted fourth-quarter earnings per share on Friday, lower than expected due to three one-off charges. The South African group said EPS, adjusted for non-realised changes in derivatives, jumped to 94 South African cents in the three months to ...

LONDON (Reuters) - QinetiQ (QQ.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the technology defence firm that was formed out of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said on Friday that shares in its flotation would be priced at 200 pence a share. The price is near the top of a 165-205p price range and will give QinetiQ a stock market value of 1.3 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) when it starts trading on the London Stock Exchange at 8:00 a.m. The MoD sold part of its stake through the flotation but remains QinetiQ's  ...

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. (7261.T: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a better-than expected 69 percent jump in quarterly operating profit on Friday, benefiting from cost cuts and a weaker yen, and lifted its forecasts thanks partly to a more profitable mix of products. For the three months to December 31, operating profit was 34.9 billion yen (169 million pounds), exceeding the  ...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Power provider Allegheny Energy Inc. said unplanned outages at its plants and the soaring cost of wholesale energy needed to meet customer demand pushed its fourth-quarter earnings sharply lower. EARNINGSWATCH Panera Bread quarterly profit rises 15% Biogen, Genzyme, Cephalon set to report Oracle updates financial outlook after Siebel deal E ...

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- MetLife Inc., the biggest U.S. life insurance company, said Thursday that fourth-quarter net income rose 32% helped by an increase in premiums and fees as well as its acquisition of Travelers Life & Annuity from Citigroup Inc. EARNINGSWATCH Aon quarterly income rises, sees $262M restructuring charges Oil stocks gain as crude prices end pullback Allie ...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Chesapeake Corp. reported a fourth-quarter loss Thursday, hit by a massive goodwill impairment charge and a drop in profit for both its paperboard and plastic packaging businesses. EARNINGSWATCH SkyWest revenue more than doubles Allied Waste quadruples profit McAfee's revenue, profit edge up TriQuint Semi swings to quarterly profit; updates 1Q out ...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Natural-gas futures fell more than 3% Thursday, sending the March contract to its lowest closing level in almost a year, with most traders convinced that U.S. inventories of the commodity will continue to run well above normal.   MARKETWATCH TOP NEWS U.S. stocks up on results; 30-yr bond auction goes well Treasurys end higher after  ...