FIVE at FIVE: Rolls-Royce, Aviva, FTSE 100, ATOME and Ecora
Last updated: 17:00 27 Feb 2025 GMT, First published: 16:57 27 Feb 2025 GMT
You know what time it is … here’s a quick look at some of the day’s top stories on Proactive.
1 - On a rolls
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) ran up to a record high on Thursday after results described by City analysts as “very strong” – albeit some say it’s a matter of good timing and fortune.
Either way, the British aerospace and engineering firm today revealed underlying profits and free cash flow well ahead of expectations, whilst 2025 guidance also represents a "beat" (as does the longer term forecasts). Read more about the numbers here and here.
2 - Aviva hiked its divi
Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) seemed to deliver higher profits than expected for last year and rewarded investors with a 7% dividend increase.
Although it was hard to tell as the life insurer's results were not presented in a simple format but only with a distracting lets-get-our-graphic-designer-on-this layout normally reserved for the final annual report and accounts. Never fear, Proactive put them under the spotlight here.
3 - FTSE 100 ends Thursday slightly higher
London’s FTSE 100 finished Thursday in positive territory, just about, with a closing mark of 8,750 – an 18.58 point, or 0.2% gain for the session.
Unsurprisingly the Rolls and Aviva results were among the day’s highlights, along with other notable names who also reported today – such as LSEG, WPP, Haleon and St James Place.
4 - ATOME lands funding breakthrough
AIM-quoted ATOME has taken an important forward step, potentially de-risking its Viletta green fertiliser project with an agreement for at least $100 million of project funding. Find out about it in more detail here.
5 - Ecora expands with new money stream
Ecora Resources PLC (LSE:ECOR, TSX:ECOR, OTCQX:ECRAF) has acquired a copper stream from Moxico Resources' Mimbula copper mine in Zambia for $50 million.
The stream covers the mine's 11-year Life of Mine (LOM) with potential for extension. The mining investor’s injection of capital comes as Mimbula is being expanded and ramped up significantly.
"Mimbula has everything we look for in an investment,” Ecora CEO Marc Bishop Lafleche said.
