Aviva Profit Boosted by UK Operation, JCDecaux Rides China Market Growth

Sarla Buch
08 Mar, 2018
New York City

Aviva plans to buy-back of up to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Aviva plans to buy-back of up to £500 million of stocks after profit surged 92%. JCDecaux said strong revenue growth was driven by China market. Linde profit jumped on improved operating margin. Rallye net swung to a loss despite operating profit in the year soared 20%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index increased 26.75 or 0.4% to 7,184.59 and in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 56.97 or 0.5% to 12,302.79.

In Paris, CAC 40 index jumped 59.58 or 1.1% to 5,247.40.

Aviva Plc slid 0.2% to 506.80 pence after the U.K.-based insurance and asset management services provider said gross written premiums in the year ending in December soared 8.7% from a year ago to £27.6 billion.

Net income in the year surged 91.6% to £1.6 billion from £859 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share jumped to 31.73 pence from 21.13 pence.

The insurer said its 2017 operating profit rose by 2% to £3.1 billion and plans to spend £2 billion, including £900 million in debt reduction, share buy-back of up to £500 million and £600 million for bolt-on acquisitions.

JCDecaux SA declined 3.2% to €29.94 after France-based outdoor advertising services provider said revenues in the year ending in December rose 2.4% from a year ago to €3 billion.

Net income in the year tumbled 13.8% to €193.7 million from €224.7 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share slumped to €0.91 from €1.06.

The advertising services provider said revenue growth in the second-half was driven by demand in China.

As of December 31, 2017, group net debt decreased to €384.4 million compared to €418.6 million in the same period a year ago.

Linde AG gained 0.7% to €174.70 after Germany-based industrial gases manufacture reported revenues in the year ending in December increased 1% from a year ago to €17.1 billion.

Net income in the year surged 15.7% to €1.5 billion from €1.3 billion in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share jumped to €7.56 from €6.50.

The industrial gases producer said profit increase was driven by strong operating margin in its gases business, which increased 20 basis points to 28.5% from a year ago period.

Linde forecasted fiscal 2018 revenues to increase up to 4% and operating profit to jump up to 5% and revenues in the engineering division between €2.2 billion and €2.6 billion.

The chemical and industrial company reaffirmed that the completion of merger with Praxair is still planned for the second-half of this year and the company plans to book €150 million charges from proposed merger.

Rallye SA plunged 6.9% to €13.90 after France-based retail food and sporting goods services provider reported revenues in the year ending in December jumped 4.9% from a year ago to €38.6 billion.

Domestic same-store sales in the year increased 0.8%, driven by Franprix, Monoprix and Casino Supermarkets segments and online sales jumped 10%.

Net in the year swung to a loss of €92 million from profit of €1.2 billion in a year ago period.

Rallye said trading profit in the year soared 20.4% to €1.24 billion from €1.03 billion in a year ago period.