(Adds company news items and futures)
May 15 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open 11
points higher at 7,252 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with
futures .FFIc1 up 0.45% ahead of the cash market open.
* ASTON MARTIN: Luxury carmaker Aston Martin AML.L posted
better-than-expected first-quarter revenue on Wednesday as it sold more vehicles
in the Americas and China, but said its expansion push had hit core
earnings.
* HARGREAVES LANSDOWN: British fund supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown
HRGV.L on Wednesday posted a 13.9% rise in assets in the first four months of
2019, boosted by market and new business gains. * CYBG: Lender CYBG Plc CYBGC.L swung to a first-half profit but said its
net interest margin was hit by mortgage pricing pressures, and raised its
provision for mis-selling of payment protection insurance. * ONESAVINGS BANK: OneSavings Bank Plc OSBO.L , set to create one of
Britain's biggest specialist lenders in a merger with Charter Court Financial
Services Group Plc CCFS.L , reported a bigger loan book for the first three
months of the year, but said it had seen marginal margin dilution. * BRITISH LAND: Real estate firm British Land Co BLND.L reported a 6.4%
drop in annual net asset value on Wednesday, as retailers invested less in
physical stores amid increased online competition. * EXPERIAN: Experian Plc EXPN.L reported slightly higher annual pretax
profit on Wednesday, as more banks and businesses in North America hired the
world's biggest credit data company. * TP ICAP: TP ICAP Plc TCAPI.L , the world's largest interdealer broker,
on Wednesday reported a drop in revenue in the first quarter, as lower
volatility in equity and rate markets hurt its global broking
division. * MARSTON'S: Pub operator Marston's Plc MARS.L said on Wednesday
acquisitions and lower administrative costs helped it post a 2% rise in its
half-year underlying pretax profit.
* KINGFISHER: British home improvement retailer Kingfisher KGF.L reported
a small rise in underlying sales in its latest quarter, with growth in its home
market, Poland and Romania more than offsetting falling sales in
France. * PETRA DIAMONDS: Petra Diamonds PDL.L said on Tuesday it sold a
425-carat diamond, recovered at its flagship Cullinan mine in South Africa in
March, to Belgium-based Stargems Group for $15 million, potentially helping it
turn free cash flow positive this year. * RIO TINTO: A large proportion of the minority shareholders in Rio Tinto
Plc-controlled RIO.AX RIO.L Turquoise Hill Resources TRQ.TO voted against
the re-election of the company's independent directors on Tuesday. * STANDARD LIFE ABERDEEN: More than 40% of shareholders in Standard Life
Aberdeen (SLA) SLA.L voted against the company's pay report at its annual
general meeting on Tuesday, which SLA said was due to concern about its new
chief financial officer's (CFO) pay.
* OIL: Oil prices fell on Wednesday after data showed a surprise rise in
U.S. crude stockpiles and Chinese industrial output for April grew less than
expected, but prices were supported by mounting tensions in the Middle
East. * GOLD: Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday, retreating from a one-month
peak hit in the previous session as optimism surrounding trade talks between
Washington and Beijing soothed investor concerns, boosting global stocks and the
dollar. * The UK blue chip index closed 1.09% higher at 7241.60 on Tuesday as
investors grew optimistic about a U.S.-China trade deal after U.S. President
Donald Trump vowed it would happen soon, while demand for vegan sausage rolls
propelled baker Greggs to a record high. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on:
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