Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Purchase Licensing Rights Read Next Melrose annual revenue up 8% on defence demand Business February 27, 20267:17 AM UTCUpdated ago By Reuters Branding is seen outside the headquarters of GKN in Redditch, Britain, March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Feb 27 (Reuters) - GKN Aerospace own ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance is positioned to win the takeover battle for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) after Netflix withdrew its bid, which was initially valued at $27.75 per share, totaling nearly $83 billion including debt [1][2]. Group 1: Bidding Process - Netflix was invited to increase its bid after Paramount's final offer of $31 per share for the entire WBD business, valuing it at $111 billion including debt [2]. - Warner's board indicated that while it still recommended Netflix's offer, it now viewed Paramount's proposal as "superior," marking a shift in support [3]. - Following this, Netflix announced its withdrawal from the bidding process, stating the deal was "no longer financially attractive" [4]. Group 2: Implications of the Takeover - CEO David Zaslav expressed that Paramount's offer "will create tremendous value," highlighting excitement about the potential merger of Paramount Skydance and WBD [5]. - If the takeover is successful, Paramount would gain control over significant news channels, including CNN and CBS News, raising concerns about media concentration linked to political influences [7]. - A merger would combine two of Hollywood's five legacy studios, enhancing Paramount's content library with popular franchises like Harry Potter, Superman, and Barbie, alongside its existing titles such as Top Gun and The Godfather [8].

Market Overview - Global funds have purchased nearly $2.1 billion of local shares in February, indicating the strongest inflows since June [1] - The rebound follows a record exodus last year, as investors shifted focus to AI-driven markets in the US, China, and South Korea [1] Economic Indicators - The inflow rebound suggests easing pressures on Indian equities, aided by a recent trade deal with the US that alleviated uncertainty for the $5.2 trillion market [2] - Projections indicate a nominal growth rate of about 10% for the economy in fiscal 2027, with corporate earnings expected to grow by approximately 15% [3] Performance Comparison - Despite a positive momentum, Indian equities have underperformed compared to the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, which surged by 25% in 2025 [6] - MSCI India members are trading about 4% below their five-year average price-to-earnings ratio, presenting a potential opportunity for investors [6] Earnings Growth - Sales for FTSE India Index companies increased by 10% year-on-year in the December quarter, while net income rose by 13% [7] - Consensus estimates suggest a 16% earnings growth for over 250 companies in fiscal 2027, supported by a recovery in nominal GDP growth, cyclical recovery in private capex, and sustained consumption momentum [8][7] Sector Preferences - Financial companies are favored by global investors, with recent additions in metals and capital goods sectors [9] - Some investors remain cautious about interpreting the inflows as the beginning of a structural bull run, especially following a significant selloff in India's software and tech sectors, which lost over $50 billion in market value due to AI concerns [9] Investment Sentiment - Foreign funds' buying is partly tactical, influenced by softer US yields and the relative appeal of emerging markets [10] - Global positioning towards India is described as tentative but clear, with a movement back toward neutral weight as valuations become more reasonable and earnings revisions stabilize [10]

Group 1 - The reinsurer experienced a decline in fourth-quarter net profit, which fell to $717 million from $1.05 billion reported in the previous year [1]

Group 1 - The US banking industry has resumed its lending pace to nondepository financial institutions after a slowdown in the third quarter of 2025 [2]

The report card is finally in for Australia’s major companies and the profit results are better than expected.Particularly notable was BHP’s monster profit and those of the four big banks, which all managed to beat market expectations.The result with just a few stragglers left to report is that the ASX 200 added 23.3 points or 0.3% to 9,168.60 points on Friday, with that record close pumping up the index by an impressive 3.7% for the month of February.Consumer stocks one weak pointThere were a few areas of ...

Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv British Airways owner IAG beats annual profit estimates February 27, 20267:09 AM UTCUpdated ago By Reuters A scale model of an aircraft with British Airways livery is seen at the British Airways headquarters and IAG head office in Harmondsworth, London, Britain, March 13, 2025. REUTERS/Toby... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more Feb 26 (Reuters) - British Airways owner IAG (ICAG ...

Core Insights - Pearson reported a sales increase of 4% to £3,577 million in 2025, with adjusted operating profit rising 6% to £614 million, reflecting strong performance across various segments [1][4][5] - The company is confident in achieving mid-single digit sales growth for 2026 and beyond, supported by strategic partnerships and advancements in AI technology [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Statutory operating profit decreased by 6% to £507 million due to adverse currency movements and a one-off impairment of legacy product development assets [1][4] - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 4% to 64.5p, with free cash flow rising by 8% to £527 million, resulting in a free cash flow conversion of 125% [1][4][5] - The company completed a £350 million share buyback in 2025, reducing the share count by 5%, and announced a further £350 million buyback in January 2026 [1][2][3] Segment Performance - Assessment & Qualifications segment saw a 4% increase in underlying sales, driven by new contracts and pricing strategies, with adjusted operating profit increasing by 1% [4][5] - Virtual Learning sales grew by 8% on an underlying basis, with a strong performance in the second half of the year, supported by a 13% increase in enrolments for the 2025/26 academic year [4][5] - Higher Education sales increased by 2%, with US Higher Education up 3% due to enrolment growth and pricing in core Courseware [4][5] Strategic Initiatives - Pearson advanced its enterprise strategy by securing eight partnerships with industry-leading firms, including a new partnership with Salesforce [1][2] - The company is focusing on the application of innovative technologies, particularly AI, to enhance learning outcomes and operational efficiencies [1][2][3] - Significant progress was made in expanding into the Early Careers space and enhancing career-readiness solutions for learners transitioning from education to the workforce [2][3] Outlook - For 2026, Pearson expects underlying sales growth to be mid-single digit, with adjusted operating profit projected between £640 million and £685 million [3][4] - The company anticipates stronger growth in Virtual Learning and Higher Education segments, driven by continued product innovation and market expansion [3][4][5] - The effective tax rate on adjusted profit before tax is expected to be around 25% for 2026 [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Pearson has appointed Simon Robson as the new Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Sally Johnson, who is leaving to take a role at a large privately owned business. The company is optimistic about achieving mid-single digit underlying sales growth in 2026 [1]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Simon Robson will officially join Pearson on March 30, 2026, and will take over as Group CFO and Executive Director on May 8, 2026, following a coordinated transition with Sally Johnson [1]. - Sally Johnson has been with Pearson for nearly 26 years, serving as CFO for the past six years, and has significantly contributed to the company's financial performance and transformation [1]. Group 2: Simon Robson's Background - Simon Robson has extensive financial leadership experience from Sky, where he held various senior finance and strategy roles, including Group CFO since June 2020 [1]. - He holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Sheffield and is a chartered certified accountant [1]. Group 3: Company Outlook - Pearson enters 2026 with confidence in delivering mid-single digit underlying sales growth, supported by the medium-term outlook shared in their full-year results [1]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to creating enriching learning experiences and serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content and assessments [1].

Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DK) will release earnings for the fourth quarter before the opening bell on Friday, Feb. 27.Analysts expect the Brentwood, Tennessee-based company to report quarterly loss at 19 cents per share. That's up from $2.54 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Delek US Holdings' quarterly revenue is $2.55 billion (it reported $2.37 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.On Feb. 18, Delek US Holdings announced a quarterly dividend of 25.5 cents per share.S ...