BUSINESS LIVE: BoE expected to hold base rate; Shell lines-up $3.5bn buyback; Haleon suffers weaker US demand

Stuart Lamont, investment manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin:

‘Shell’s results are a contrast with BP’s earlier this week, more or less matching expectations on the back of rising profits.

‘Comparisons with last year, when oil prices first began their surge, were always going to be tough, but the company has managed to deliver.

‘Another share buyback should be good news for shareholders, but there is little said about its plans to achieve net zero in today’s update – this remains a longer term concern for many, after the company announced its decision to focus on oil and gas production earlier this year.

‘With the geopolitical environment still volatile, oil prices look likely to continue recent rises which should mean a strong final quarter for Shell.’

Smith & Nephew has forecast annual revenue growth at the higher end of its guided range of 6 to 7 per cent and named ad group WPP’s former finance boss John Rogers as its new chief financial officer.

Strong sales from wound management and orthopaedics is likely to drive up underlying revenue growth for 2023, above analysts’ average expectations of 6.4 per cent, the company said.

Albie Amankona, analyst at Third Bridge:

‘BT is using its own cash flows to fund investments, setting it apart from many of its peers encountering similar funding challenges amid high interest rates. This could potentially benefit BT, as there may be a reduced expectation of overbuilding in the industry.

‘If operators such as Virgin Media O2 and CityFibre grow to a scale that rivals Openreach, Sky may retail those services but maintain its own base. Our experts believe Openreach’s wholesale revenue from Sky is secure.

‘BT has achieved EBITDA growth primarily through cost control measures, as opposed to relying on revenue growth. Our experts believe BT can successfully execute its plan for further job cuts by the end of the 2020s, largely thanks to the end of the fibre rollout in 2026 and the transition in technology from copper.’

BT Group’s second quarter earnings were slightly ahead of forecasts, putting Britain’s biggest broadband and mobile provider on track to meet 2024 guidance in one of the outgoing CEO’s final announcements.

Allison Kirkby, a board member and the boss of Sweden’s Telia Company, will take over from Philip Jansen early next year.

Cost controls helped BT post a 3 per cnet rise in adjusted core profit to £2.06billion for the three months to the end of September, roughly £30million higher than forecast.

‘These results show that BT Group is delivering and on target: we’re rapidly building and connecting customers to our next generation networks, we’re simplifying our products and services,’ Jansen said.

America’s central bank last night held interest rates at a 22-year high but left the door open for more hikes in the battle to bring down inflation – and played down any prospects of a cut soon.

The US Federal Reserve’s rate was left in a range of 5.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent, the second pause after aggressive rises since early 2022.

Entain has forecast a return to growth in 2024, even as the gambling giant posted a drop in gaming revenue in the third quarter on the back of adverse sporting results and regulatory pressures.

The owner of Ladbrokes and Coral betting shops as well as bwin and partypoker online brands said it expects 2024 gaming revenue to grow in low single digits.

Entain’s online net gaming revenue on a pro forma basis was down 6 per cent for the three months to the end of September, with ‘customer-friendly’ results marking a £45million hit to core profit.

Around 3,000 steelworker jobs are in limbo after an announcement by Tata Steel was pulled at the last minute.

Tata had been expected to confirm cuts at the UK’s largest steelworks in Port Talbot yesterday.

But the announcement was cancelled by the firm’s Indian owner Tata Group after a board meeting – a move that

blindsided workers and unions.

Sainsbury’s has forecast full-year profit at the upper half of previous guidance after the supermarket reported slightly better-than-expected flat profit for the first half due to demand for its food ranges.

The group now expects a underlying annual pre-tax profit of £670million to £700million, up from previous guidance of £640million to £700million, and the £690million made last year.

Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown:

‘Sainsbury’s is putting up a good fight in the battle for footfall. Its value driven approach has taken competitors, especially the discounters, head on, and the market share gains show something’s being done right.

‘The expected momentum in profit is a welcome development for investors that have endured a bumpy ride in recent memory. It’s especially encouraging to see that general merchandise sales are just about keeping their head above water too. Argos is acting as a bit of a drag but the festive trading season will tell us how this is shaping up without so much macro noise.

‘Looking ahead to the next few months, Sainsbury’s extensive product improvements and the strong demand for Taste the Differences ranges, could mean the group’s in for a merry Christmas.

‘But these are trends that will need monitoring closely, the discounters and other mid-value supermarkets have also stepped up their game, and as belts are tightened, it could lead to customers being even more discerning about where their pennies are spent in what is an incredibly expensive period for families.’

Haleon missed market estimates for third-quarter revenues after the world’s largest consumer healthcare company was weighed down by lower sales volumes in North America, due to weaker demand for its digestive health products and vitamins.

Consumer health companies and their essential, daily-use products are typically the last to face a demand impact by an economic slowdown, but high interest rates and rental costs are turning consumers more frugal by the day.

Haleon reported a 5 per cent organic increase in revenue to £2.79billion for the three months to the end of September, slightly below forecasts of £2.83billion.

Volumes for the quarter declined by 1.6 per cent.

Shell has lined-up fresh share buybacks of $3.5billion over the next three months, up from $2.7 billion in the previous three months, after posting third quarter profits of $6.2billion.

The oil giant’s earnings met market expectations on the back of higher refining margins and strong liquefied natural gas trading.

Shell said: ‘Income attributable to Shell shareholders, compared with the second quarter 2023, mainly reflected higher refining margins, higher realised oil prices, higher LNG trading and optimisation results, and higher Upstream production, partly offset by lower Integrated Gas volumes.’

Shaan Raithatha, senior economist at Vanguard, Europe:

‘We think the MPC will keep the Bank Rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent. This is backed up by recent rhetoric by key members of the committee that suggest a preference for keeping rates at the current level for longer, rather than raising rates further from here.

‘For example, see [BoE chief economist Huw] Pill’s 16 October comments: “I am reasonably confident that interest rates at their current level are bearing down on inflation, are acting to squeeze out that persistent component of inflation”.’