Updates from Rolls-Royce, Travis Perkins and Provident Financial

Wednesday's shock share falls were, more or less, held on Thursday with the FTSE 100 sliding 15 points further to 6,195.9. Shire shares though continued to fall hard, this time by 7.33% to 3718p. Aviva and Tullow Oil took pressure, down 2.18% and 2% respectively but IAG and GKN shares climbed, 4.54% and 4.17% respectively.

Across the water, the Dow Jones dipped almost 25 points to 16,117.2 but there was some cheer from better labour data, checking further shares weakness.

We start with a guidance update from Rolls-Royce. A combination of Russian sanctions and a still-tough wider global outlook means the company expects Group underlying revenues in 2014 to come in 3.5% to 4% lower.

However it's maintaining guidance for Group underlying profit as flat in 2014, excluding adverse foreign exchange translation now estimated at £60m (previously £70m) and a one-off £30m charge for Marine operations.

"We previously said that we expected a resumption of growth in 2015," says Rolls-Royce. "In the light of these uncertainties, our current best estimate for 2015 is that Group underlying revenue will be in the range of +/-3% and profit in the range of 0% to -3%."

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Next, a third quarter interim from building materials operator Travis Perkins. There's total sales growth of 6.9% with like-for-like sales growth of 5.7% - or two-year like-for-like sales growth of 12.4% it claims.

Trading is consistent with expectations at the start of the year says the company and General Merchanting performed well; work to modernise the business is progressing it says.

A strengthened management team at Wickes continues to make progress claims chief exec John Carter. "The Plumbing & Heating team," Carter adds, "are working hard on reconfiguring our branch network, but against the backdrop of a very challenging market."

We finish with an update from payday player Provident Financial for the period 1 July to 16 Oct. The group claims to have performed well through the third quarter - credit quality in all three businesses is "very sound" and the group's funding position is strong says Provident.

Its Vanquis Bank arm generated strong growth and margins through the third quarter of the year it says with year-on-year customer growth of 17%.

"Delinquency levels have remained favourable through the third quarter, reflecting the sound quality of the receivables book and the backdrop of an improving employment market." Provident's pilot credit card operation in Poland continues.

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