The morning news update with Next, RBS, ICAP and InternetQ

FTSE 100

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – expects to significantly outperform its previous guidance of c£1bn total impairments for FY 2014.

Wolseley (WOS) – pre-tax profits up by 52% at £698 million in the year to July, dividend up by 25% at 82.5p per share.

Melrose (MRO) – its Elster Gas business has signed a conditional agreement for the acquisition of Eclipse, Inc., a manufacturer of gas combustion components and systems for industrial heating and drying applications headquartered in Rockford, Illinois (USA), for $126 million.  For its fiscal year ended March 2014, Eclipse recorded sales of 126 million.

Next (NXT) – profit forecast for the full year remains within previous guidance reiterated on 11th September.  However, if unusually warm weather continues for the full duration of October then is likely to lower full year profit guidance range of £775 million to £815 million.

FTSE 250

ICAP (IAP) – Group revenue for the half year to 30th September 2014 is expected to be 10% lower than the previous year on a constant currency basis. Iain Torrens, Group Finance Director, is leaving to join TalkTalk Group.

QinetiQ (QQ.) – outlook for the full year to 31st March 2015 is unchanged from that set out in the Interim Management Statement dated 22nd July 2014.

KCom (KCOM) – During the first half year of the financial year, the group has performed in line with expectations, with continued strong cash generation.

Small caps

InternetQ (INTQ) – adjusted pre-tax profits up by 40% at €6 million for the six months to June.

Begbies Traynor (BEG) – trading in the first four months of the year is in line with typical seasonal trading patterns.

Ovoca Gold (OVG) – posts a net loss of €536,000 for the six months to June.

SnackTime (SNAK) – Negotiations regarding the future funding of SnackTime. Shares suspended as the firm has been unable to release results for the year to March within six months, in line with AIM rules.

Aureus Mining (AUE) – announces results from the remaining 49 holes of the phase four drilling programme at the Ndablama gold project.

Progility (PGY) – posts a, underlying pre-tax profit of £1.7 million for the year to June.

Metals Exploration (MTL) – posts a net loss of £7.1 million for the six months to June.

Ariana Resources (AAU) – posts a net loss of £225,000 for the six months to June.