STOCK WATCH

IRISH drinks maker C&C Group said December sales lagged expectations.

Renewed curbs in the UK and Ireland due to rising cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant hit supplies to restaurants and pubs, the firm said.

The Dublin-based producer of Bulmers cider and Tennent’s lager also cautioned that earnings for the second half of fiscal 2022 would depend on how the curbs progress.

The news sent its Londonlisted shares down 2.7pc, or 6.4p, to 230.2p.