Nasdaq News

(RTTNews) - Hays plc (HAS.L) on Thursday reported profit before tax of 95.6 million pounds for the six months ended 31 December 2019, down 22 percent from 122.6 million pounds in the prior-year period. Basic earnings per share were 4.60 pence, compared to 5.86 pence last year.

European shares retreated from record highs on Thursday, as a rise in the number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea added to fears after research suggested the virus was more contagious than previously thought.

South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix said on Thursday that 800 of its workers had quarantined themselves as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but its production in the city of Icheon has not been affected.

Chinese stocks closed at a fresh one-month high on Thursday, boosted by a widely-expected cut in the benchmark prime lending rate and a slower rate of new coronavirus infections in the country.

Swedish radiation therapy equipment maker Elekta reported on Thursday operating profit growth in the three months from November to January below expectations and said order intake in the United States plummeted.

(RTTNews) - Anglo American plc (AAUKY.PK, AAL.L) reported Thursday that fiscal 2019 profit attributable to equity shareholders was $3.547 billion, nearly flat with last year's $3.549 billion.

(RTTNews) - Medical technology business Smith & Nephew plc (SN.L, SNN) reported Thursday that its fiscal 2019 earnings per share declined 10 percent to 68.6 US cents from 76.0 US cents last year.

Renewable infrastructure fund Greencoat UK Wind has agreed to buy a wind farm in northern Ireland from SSE Renewables for 51 million pounds ($66 million), it said on Thursday.

(RTTNews) - German aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines AG (MTUAY.PK) reported Thursday that its net income for the full year rose 7.7 percent to 488.4 million euros, while adjusted net income grew 12.2 percent to 537.6 million euros.

(RTTNews) - Lloyds Banking Group plc (LLOY.L, LYG) on Thursday reported fiscal 2019 pre-tax profit of 4.39 billion pounds, down 26 percent from 5.96 billion pounds in the previous year.

(RTTNews) - Schneider Electric (SBGSF.PK) reported fiscal 2019 net income (Group share) of 2.41 billion euros compared to 2.33 billion euros, previous year. Adjusted net income was 2.9 billion euros, an increase of 14%. Adjusted earnings per share was 5.32 euros compared to 4.64

(RTTNews) - A.P. Moller - Maersk (AMKAF.PK, AMKBF.PK) reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter loss, group share was $72 million, compared to prior year's profit of $32 million.

British defence company BAE Systems posted annual earnings growth of 7%, in line with forecasts, and said that next year earnings would grow by a mid-single digit percentage, boosted by a ramp up in its activities in the United States.

A team of IMF experts met Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Thursday at the start of a visit to provide Lebanon with advice on how to tackle a deepening financial and economic crisis, Lebanese broadcasters LBC and al-Jadeed reported.

(RTTNews) - Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology (PFFVF.PK, PVTCY.PK), a manufacturer of vacuum solutions, reported Thursday that its preliminary operating result or EBIT for the financial year 2019 declined 31.5 percent to 65.2 million euros from 95.1 million euros in the previous year.

Global miner Anglo American said on Thursday its full year profits climbed 9% as higher prices for iron ore and precious metals offset weakness in diamonds and coal.

Japanese retail group Seven & i Holdings Co confirmed on Thursday that it was considering acquisitions after reports that it was in talks to buy Marathon Petroleum Corp's Speedway gas stations, sending its shares down 8.8%.

Shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday the coronavirus outbreak would weigh on earnings this year, as it reported fourth-quarter profit below expectations.

French conglomerate Bouygues said on Thursday it expected an improvement in the operating margin of its construction activity this year, as well as strong free cash flow generation stemming from all its businesses.

Round-up of South Korean financial markets: