The morning news update with Centrica, Investec and Sprue Aegis

FTSE 100

Centrica (CNA) – due to mild weather in the UK and the Polar Vortex in North America, trading conditions for British Gas Services, and the impact of boiler inspections at the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations, full year adjusted earnings per share in 2014 are expected to be in the range of 19-20p.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – has reached agreement with the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom for failings in relation to the 2012 I.T. incident. RBS has agreed a penalty of £42 million with the FCA and £14 million with the PRA.

Babcock (BAB) – pre-tax profits up by 32% at £187 million in the six months to September.

FTSE 250

Close Brothers (CBG) – as made a good start to the year as a stronger performance in Banking has offset more difficult trading at Winterflood.

Investec (INVP) – Operating profit before goodwill, acquired intangibles, non-operating items and taxation and after other non-controlling interests increased by 8.6% to £240.8 million in the six months to September.

QinetiQ (QQ.) – Underlying profit before tax up by £3.1 million to £46 million in the six months to September, dividend increased by 0.4p to 1.8p per share.

Small caps

Plant Impact (PIM) – is planning for good growth in its European and Middle Eastern businesses and anticipates trading in line with expectations for the remainder of the 2015 financial year.

Dart Group (DTG) – pre-tax profits down by 8% at £71.7 million in the six months to September.

Statpro (SOG) – has signed a five year contract renewal worth £0.6m with a large, global asset manager, for its leading Global Investment Performance Standards compliance solution, StatPro Composites.

Tangiers Petroleum (TPET) – Successfully bids for large acreage position onshore Alaska in prolific liquids- rich area.

Sprue Aegis (SPRP) – financial performance has continued to be strong and October was a record month for sales and profit.