Tuesday’s Master Investor Stock Market Report

– The FTSE 100 closed the day at 6,345.13, a fall of 7.2 points.
– The FTSE 250 grew by 66.69 points to finish at 16,984.03.
– The FTSE All Share slipped 1.05 points to 3,473.01.
– The FTSE AIM All Share finished at 745, up by 1.55 points.

Online clothing retailer ASOS (ASC) saw a slight increase in profits over the year ended 31st August despite investing over £50 million in its warehouses and technology. Revenues climbed 18% to £1.2 billion on the back of an exceptionally strong performance in the UK. Numis upgraded its rating from “add” to “buy”, saying that they were confident in the firm’s prospects and noting that the shares had dropped by roughly a quarter since July. ASOS shares closed at 3,174p, up by 246p.

Hospitality outfit InterContinental Hotels (IHG) reported a 4.8% increase in revenue per available room for the third quarter of 2015, but this was outweighed by the shift in exchange rates since the equivalent period of last year. Management said that the $929 million (£600 million) sale of the InterContinental Hong Kong represented the end of its asset disposal programme. The shares rose by 7.14% to 2,471p.

Travel firm Go-Ahead Group (GOG) said that trading in the three months ended 26th September was in line with its expectations and management reiterated its existing full year guidance. Revenues were up in all divisions, despite a fall in regional bus passenger numbers, with particularly strong growth in the London Midland rail arm. Go-Ahead shares climbed 44p to 2,476p.

Oil and gas producer Genel Energy (GENL) has cut output and revenue forecasts for the current financial year in light of declining prices and delayed payments due to conflicts between the Kurdistan authorities and the Iraqi national government. Revenues for the third quarter were $77 million (£49.8 million). The shares dropped by 19p to 316.25p.

Tomorrow’s news today

Home Retail Group (HOME) will post its interim results, while Sky (SKY) will report on its first quarter.

Quote of the day

“Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.”
– John Dewey