Just Eat, Prudential Net Advance; Ladbrokes Net Plunges

Nigel Thomas
12 Aug, 2014
New York City

BAE Systems secured a contract worth

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – BAE Systems secured a contract worth £348 million from the U.K. government. Just Eat profit surged after revenue climbed 58% to £70 million. Ladbrokes profit plunged 50% to £24 million. Serco net swung to a loss to £6 million. Prudential profit soared 215% to £1.2 billion.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index fell 0.1% or 7.86 to 6,624.96 and in Frankfurt the DAX index dropped 0.6% or 57.63 to 9,123.11.

In Paris, CAC 40 index slipped 0.6% or 23.51 to 4,174.19.

BAE Systems Plc gained 0.6% to 431.10 pence after the U.K.-based defense, aerospace and security services provider secured a contract worth £348 million from the U.K. government to build three Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Just Eat Plc surged 9.4% to 240.25 pence after the U.K.-based food services provider said revenue in the first-half ending in June climbed 58% to £69.8 million from £44.1 million a year ago period.

Profit in the period surged from a year ago to £6.1 million compared to £2.1 million and diluted earnings per share jumped to 1.1 pence from 0.4 pence.

Ladbrokes Plc slipped 0.5% to 129.90 pence after the U.K.-based betting and gaming company said group revenue in the first-half ending in June jumped 4% to £589.3 million from £566.5 million a year ago period.

Profit in the period plunged 49.8% from a year ago to £23.7 million compared to £47.2 million and diluted earnings per share declined to 2.6 pence from 5.1 pence.

Serco Group Plc jumped 2.1% to 335.70 pence after the U.K.-based outsourcing service provider reported revenue in the first-half ending in June dropped 4.5% to £2.02 billion from £2.11 billion a year ago period.

Net in the period swung to a loss from a year ago to £6.4 million compared to profit of £84.2 million and diluted loss per share swung to a 1.27 pence from earnings of 17.18 pence.

Prudential Plc gained 1.3% to 1,357.05 pence after the U.K.-based insurer reported total revenue in the first-half ending in June £30.6 billion from £22.4 billion a year ago period.

Profit in the period soared 215% from a year ago to £1.15 billion compared to £365 million and diluted earnings per share climbed to 44.9 pence from 14.3 pence.