THE DAILY BRIEFING
PRU PROFITS New business profits at Prudential hit £856m in the first quarter of 2017 – up 42pc on the same period last year. Its asset manager M&G was handed an extra £3.6bn by investors.
The insurance giant said Deloitte partner Mark FitzPatrick would become chief financial officer. Shares rose 1pc, or 17.5p, to 1748.5p. STRONG YEAR Profits at credit checking company Experian jumped 11pc to £821m in the year to March 31 due to strong growth in Latin America, Europe and the AsiaPacific region. JAPAN JOY Japan’s economy has clocked up its longest period of growth for more than a decade. Output rose by 0.5pc in the first three months of the year – its fifth straight quarter of growth. BREAKFAST BOOST Sales of its £2 breakfasts helped Greggs to a 3.6pc boost in sales in the first 19 weeks of the year. MEXICO DEAL Commodities giant Glencore is to supply fuel and retail services to around 1,400 petrol stations in Mexico in a joint venture with Corporacion G500 SAPI. TAKEOVER BACKED The £112m takeover of GO Outdoors’ 58 tent and camping shops by JD Sports has been approved by the UK’s competition watchdog. METAL RESEARCH Metal technology company Metalysis is working with an unnamed partner to develop a better-value aluminiumscandium alloy, used to strengthen metals. The research will take place at its new facility in Rotherham. SHORT STAY Non- executive director Jane Sadowsky, 54, has resigned from troubled oil service provider Petrofac less than six months after joining. CHEESE DIPS Profits at Cathedral City cheese maker Dairy Crest fell 11pc as it revealed revenue was down 1pc to £416.6m. G’DAY SPORT Nutrition brand Science In Sport is the new official supplier to Cycling Australia. BONUS VOTE A revolt at construction firm Balfour Beatty saw 22.8pc of shareholders vote against a plan to increase chief executive Leo Quinn’s bonus from 120pc of his salary to 150pc, taking it to £3.8m. RIVAL SWOOPS The controversial employment agency Transline that supplied workers embroiled in the Sports Direct warehouse scandal has been bought by rival NMS.