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British American Tobacco names Dragos Constantinescu as CFO, Metlen Energy and Metals core earnings down 30pc

By Iain Gilbert

Date: Thursday 09 Apr 2026

(Sharecast News) - LONDON PRE-OPEN

The FTSE 100 was expected to open 53.3 points higher ahead of the bell on Thursday, after wrapping up the previous session 2.51% stronger at 10,608.88.


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British American Tobacco has appointed Dragos Constantinescu as chief financial officer with effect from 1 September. Constantinescu currently serves as chief executive of Asahi Europe & International, having been with Asahi Breweries since 2019. Prior to this, he spent 16 years at BAT, where he held senior finance and general management roles.

Investment manager Foresight Group said on Thursday that both assets and funds under management had increased in the year ended 31 March amid "another period of profitable and resilient growth". Foresight said assets under management had risen 6% to £14bn, while funds under management grew 4% to £10.0bn.

Metlen Energy and Metals posted a 30% fall in core earnings due to project cost overruns and delays. The London and Athens listed company delayed publication of its numbers by nine days on the request of its auditors last month, sparking a fall in its share price. Earnings came in at €753m, although Metlen added that on an adjusted basis they would have exceeded €1bn without the project issues and the decision to not monetise certain outstanding legal claims.

NEWSPAPER ROUND-UP

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US CLOSE

Major indices closed higher on Wednesday after Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2.85% at 47,909.92, while the S&P 500 advanced 2.51% to 6,782.81 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 2.80% firmer at 22,635.00.



Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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