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FTSE 100 movers: AB Foods rallies; Smurfit slumps on merger

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was up 0.6% at 7,540.71 in afternoon trade on Tuesday. Associated British Foods was the standout gainer as it lifted annual guidance again, boosted by a recovery at its Primark retail chain and a strong performance from food operations.

AB Foods said it now expected full-year adjusted operating profit to be "slightly better" than previous guidance, when it said earnings would be "moderately ahead" of 2021/22's £1.43bn.

Primark like-for-like sales growth for the financial year is now tipped to be around 9%, with like-for-like sales likely to be around 7% in the second half. For the financial year as a whole, sales are forecast to be around 15% ahead year on year, it added.

Smurfit Kappa slumped after it agreed to merge with US rival WestRock in a deal that will create a $20bn packaging giant.

Under the terms of the transaction, shareholders of WestRock will receive one new Smurfit WestRock share and $5 in cash. This represents a total consideration to WestRock shareholders equivalent to $43.51 per share, based on the Smurfit closing price on Monday.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The market doesn't seem to think this is a good deal for Smurfit despite the potential economy of scale benefits from parking the two companies together."

Peers DS Smith and Mondi also lost ground.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,107.00p 5.30% Vodafone Group (VOD) 77.47p 3.11% BT Group (BT.A) 115.90p 2.48% Airtel Africa (AAF) 116.60p 2.19% Next (NXT) 7,294.00p 1.90% B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 580.20p 1.75% Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 273.70p 1.71% AstraZeneca (AZN) 10,668.00p 1.58% Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 42.19p 1.47% Endeavour Mining (EDV) 1,542.00p 1.45%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Smurfit Kappa Group (CDI) (SKG) 2,788.00p -9.13% Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,460.00p -3.28% Croda International (CRDA) 5,020.00p -2.37% Smith (DS) (SMDS) 285.10p -1.86% Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,717.50p -1.74% CRH (CDI) (CRH) 4,301.00p -1.56% Persimmon (PSN) 1,021.50p -1.49% Mondi (MNDI) 1,288.50p -1.26% Flutter Entertainment (CDI) (FLTR) 14,080.00p -1.26% Ashtead Group (AHT) 5,096.00p -1.05%

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Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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