Updates from Sage Group, Ladbrokes and Brewin Dolphin

savings, tax, stockmarket, pensions, cash, investment FTSE 100, Ladbrokes, sainsbury's, BP, Royal Mail
savings, tax, stockmarket, pensions, cash, investment FTSE 100, Ladbrokes, sainsbury's, BP, Royal Mail

Almost a 1.30% jump for the FTSE 100 on Tuesday, ending 85.7 points up at 6,742.10. Oil stocks TullowOil, BP and Shell all climbed strongly, up 6%, 4.6% and 4.1% respectively while Sainsbury's shares also surged, rising 4% to 241.2p helped by positive analyst momentum. In contrast, RoyalMail shares dropped heavily, down 3% to 405.50p after the regulator Ofcom opted not to alter universal postal service terms.

No stopping the Dow Jones, surging more than 100 points to an all-time high, 17,879.5, helped by energy stocks momentum and strong sales from GM.

We open this morning with a 4.9% rise in revenue for Sage Group, to £1,306m with operating profit climbing 6.7% to £360m. Underlying earnings per share rise 8.2% to 22.69p. Statutory operating profit is up 65.3% to £298m.

Sage says subscriptions are driving increased customer loyalty, reflected in an increase in the recurring contract renewal rate to 83% (2013: 82%).

"I reconfirm the Board's financial targets for 2015," says boss Stephen Kelly, "and recognise the 2014 results as an important milestone on the path to meeting them. Our financial performance demonstrates the strength of Sage's global business."

We move onto bookie Ladbrokes which says it is on the hunt for a new chief exec. Richard Glynn is the current chief, appointed in April 2010, but five years in the job looks enough.

Ladbrokes acknowledges that its recovery has been tough. "The Board acknowledges that the recovery programme has taken longer to deliver than initially anticipated...

"...in great part due to economic and regulatory headwinds, the Board believes that the changes made are now deeply embedded." Trading is line with expectations the company confirms.

Lastly, full year numbers for Brewin Dolphin. The investment manager says strong growth in discretionary funds helped total income climb 2% to £290.5 million (29 September 2013: £283.7 million).

However statutory profits before tax of £8.6 million compared to £28.4 million) a cut of 70% due to a previously-announced exceptional write off.

Commission income dipped 5% to £88.6 million (29 September 2013: £93.5 million) in line with reduced transaction volumes resulting from volatility in the second half of the year.

BP Battles to Oust Oil Spill Claims Chief Overseeing Compensation
BP Battles to Oust Oil Spill Claims Chief Overseeing Compensation


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