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UK stocks opened almost 1% lower on Wednesday as global markets were hit by niggling fears that rising inflation, underpinned by a recovery from the pandemic, would prompt central banks to raise rates.
At 0824, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 59.91 points, or 0.9%, at 6,974.33, despite some positive corporate earnings updates.
Premier Foods gained 1.4% to 103.8p, having declared a dividend for the first time in 13 years after its annual profit more than doubled.
The maker of Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy enjoyed high demand for groceries during lockdowns that helped it reduce a large debt pile. It recommended a final dividend of 1p per share.
Specialist media group Future rallied 8.9% to £26.06 as it forecast full-year results 'materially' ahead of market expectations, after its first-half profit more than doubled.
Future said that while it remained cautious around wider macroeconomic uncertainties associated with the pandemic, its third quarter had started ahead of management expectations.
Water utility Severn Trent fell 0.5% to £24.8815 as it launched a £250 million equity raising to help it fund six new UK projects.
Severn Trent also booked a 14% fall in annual profit owing to lower demand during Covid lockdowns. The price of the share placing and retail offer would be determined by a bookbuild process.
Information services company Experian fell 0.9% to £26.06, even as it reported a 14% rise in annual profit thanks to strong growth in its consumer services business.
Experien held its interim dividend steady at 47c per share and guided for 11-to-13% revenue growth in the current financial year.
Pub owner Marston's slipped 0.9% to 94.4p as it swung to a full-year profit, thanks to proceeds from the sale of its beer assets, though it posted deep losses at the underlying level, pinned on the pandemic.
Marston's said all of its pubs had reopened by 17 May and that it had seen early indications of strong customer demand.
Fellow pub company Mitchells & Butlers shed 1.1% to 306.74p, having also racked up some deep losses.
Mitchells & Butlers said almost all of its sites were now open, too, trading indoors and outdoors.
Consultancy company Science Group jumped 5.7% to 370p after it guided for an around 30% rise in first-half operating profit following a good start to 2021 at all three of its divisions.
Science Group also said it had decided to retain its recently acquired Frontier business and terminate related sale talks.
Building materials company SigmaRoc added 0.6% to 83.03p on news that it had made a better-than-expected start to 2021, providing a 'favourable' outlook for the full year.
SigmaRoc's revenue in the three months through March had risen more than 12% on a like-for-like basis to £36.7 million.