Market Live Email
HSBC taps former KPMG partner for chairman, Spire Healthcare FY earnings seen at bottom end of guidance
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Wednesday 03 Dec 2025
(Sharecast News) - LONDON PRE-OPEN
The FTSE 100 was expected to open 4.5 points higher ahead of the bell on Wednesday after wrapping up the previous session just 0.01% lower at 9,701.80.
STOCKS TO WATCH
HSBC Holdings named former KPMG partner Brendan Nelson as permanent chair on Wednesday. The blue chip lender confirmed that Nelson, who has served as interim chair since 1 October, had been appointed following a "robust" process, with both internal and external candidates considered. However, some City watchers had expected a more-high profile figure to fill the role.
Private hospital operator Spire Healthcare pointed to a slowdown in NHS commissioning on Wednesday as it warned full-year earnings would come in at the bottom end of guidance. Spire said revenues grew 3.6% year-on-year in the four months ended 31 October, as self-pay demand continued to improve. However, Spire cautioned that reduced NHS activity, linked to Integrated Care Board budget restrictions, would weigh on performance. As a result, the FTSE 250-listed firm expects full-year adjusted group underlying earnings to land at the lower end of its £270m to £285m guidance range.
UK engineer Senior said on Wednesday that it had won a multi-year contract from Airbus to design and make parts to transport fluids on dual and single aisle commercial aircraft. Senior added that the deal provided significant further potential in the spares and repairs markets. Delivery will start in the first quarter of 2026.
NEWSPAPER ROUND-UP
The Office for Budget Responsibility complained to senior Treasury officials in the run-up to the budget about a flurry of leaks that it said spread "misconceptions" about its forecasts, it has emerged. Prof David Miles of the OBR's budget responsibility committee told MPs on the Treasury select committee on Tuesday that the watchdog had raised the issue of leaks with the department before the chancellor's statement last week. - Guardian
Tesla privately warned the UK government that weakening electric vehicle rules would hit battery car sales and risk the country missing its carbon dioxide targets, according to newly revealed documents. The US electric carmaker, run by Elon Musk, also called for "support for the used-car market", according to submissions to a government consultation earlier this year obtained by the Fast Charge, a newsletter covering electric cars. - Guardian
A French aerospace giant is to rely on British researchers to lead Europe's fightback against China's stranglehold on rare earths. Safran, the world's biggest jet engine maker, has selected the Pitstone site in the Chilterns to seek out alternatives to the critical minerals needed in green technology after Beijing "weaponised" their supply. - Telegraph
The designer behind Jaguar's controversial "woke" rebrand has reportedly been dismissed from the carmaker just days after a new chief executive took over. Gerry McGovern, who was formerly Jaguar Land Rover's chief creative officer, was told he was being dismissed with immediate effect on Monday. - Telegraph
Trump said he would announce his choice to succeed Jerome Powell as head of the Federal Reserve "early next year". Trump's comments come amid a months-long search process and follow repeated criticisms of Powell by the president for not lowering interest rates more quickly. - The Times
US CLOSE
Wall Street stocks closed higher on Tuesday, as major indices attempted to recover from a soft start to December trading in the previous session.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.39% higher at 47,474.46, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.25% to 6,829.37 and the Nasdaq Composite came out of the gate 0.59% firmer at 23,413.67.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Article Archive
Free Membership To Digital Look
Discover the full range of Investor's Tools and Services from Digital Look - voted 'Best Research & Information Provider 2007' by Investors Chronicle.
En HeaderFooterDLYou are here: research