Updates from Unilever, William Hill and IG Group

Another modest rise for the FTSE 100 on Monday, up 35.2 points to 6,585.5. The biggest gainer was Dixons Carphone, up 4.4% to 446.50p. Travis Perkins and CRH were other major risers, up 3.8% and 3.2% respectively. However miners and oil all saw drift with Glencore down 1.9% to 247p and BHP Billiton down 1.4% to 1386p.

The big economic news today is worry from China - growth has slowed to 7.4% from 7.7% (2013), its weakest showing in almost 25 years.

We commence with a full-year update from Dove shampoo to Bovril to Domestos maker Unilever: turnover dips 2.7% to €48.4 billion including currency impact of -4.6%. More cheerier, underlying sales growth is up 2.9% for the year.

Full year operating profit surges 6% to €8bn with net profit up 5% to €5.5bn. There's fourth quarter underlying sales growth of 2.1%. Unilever is pessimistic on 2015 market conditions though - little anticipation on improved conditions, it says.

"Against this background," it says, "we expect our full year performance to be similar to 2014 with the first quarter being softer but growth improving during the year."

We move onto the bookies with a trading statement from William Hill. Full-year group net revenues climb 8% and operating profit surges 11% to £371m, it claims. There's also new plans to consolidate Oz operations.

Continued year-on-year gaming growth in Q4 in Online and Retail though Q4 sports betting revenue progression is hurt by what Hill describes as 'customer-friendly results'; US profits are ahead of expectations. But operating profits for 2014 could be up to 11% higher it says.

"In Q4, generally weaker sporting results in December impacted our revenue progression," says Hill, "as did a very tough November comparative, but gaming continued to grow."

Lastly, IG Group claims "strong" first half numbers following a subdued first quarter. Net trading revenues are up 8% at £197.4m while profit before tax is up 2.8% to £101.4m.

The interim dividend is 8.45p per share, 30% of 2014 full year dividend says IG.

"We...made good progress with our ongoing investment in strategic initiatives designed to drive future growth, including the launch of stockbroking in the UK," boss Tim Howkins said.

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