The Morning News Update with Sage, TalkTalk and Audioboom

FTSE 100

Sage (SGE) – Performance in the fourth quarter is expected to be stronger than the third quarter and the business remains on course to achieve the 6% organic revenue growth target in 2015.

Johnson Matthey (JMAT) –  Underlying profit before tax was 10% lower at £95.0 million in the three months to June. Expects that the group’s performance in 2014/15 will be broadly in line with 2013/14 as continued growth across the group will be offset by the adverse impact of both the loss of commission revenue from Anglo Platinum and by the effect of foreign currency translation.

Capita (CPI) – pre-tax profits up by 16% at £238 million for the six months to June.

FTSE 250

Balfour Beatty (BBY) – awarded a £129 million scheme to upgrade a 13 mile stretch of the M3 through Hampshire and Surrey to a ‘smart motorway’. 

TalkTalk Telecom (TALK) – Total revenue up 3.1% year-on-year  to £434 million in the three months to June.

Entertainment One (ETO) – Group revenues for the three months to June were up by 4% on a pro forma and constant currency basis. Full year earnings expected to be in line with management expectations.

Small caps

Staffline (STAF) – Underlying profit before tax up 30% to £6.4 million in the six months to June, dividend up by 50% to 5p per share.

Accesso Technology (ACSO) – has signed an agreement with SEA LIFE Birmingham, UK to pilot the accesso Passport ticketing solution at the attraction which includes, mobile point of sale for “queue busting”; ticketing point of sale; access control; season pass processing; eCommerce; and group sales.

Mobile Streams (MOS) – posts positive EBITDA, in line with market expectations for the year to June, albeit significantly reduced compared to the prior year due to foreign exchange factors and business factors.

32Red (TTR) – gross gaming revenues up by 19% at £22.6 million in the six months to June.

Audioboom (BOOM) – has appointed talkSPORT Limited as its exclusive UK sales partner to sell digital audio and display advertising through Audioboom’s unique network of sports websites, mobile apps and content.