Boris Brexit talks continue as deal remains at sea

FTSE 100 rose again even though Boris Johnson’s dinner with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen produced no end to the Brexit stalemate. London’s blue chip index was up 19 at 6,583 with Sunday now the next Brexit deadline.

 () expects profits to shoot up this year after strong trading during the pandemic. The FTSE 100-listed online grocer expects to make more than £70mln, up from £43mln a year ago.

Mike Ashley’s Frasers group is interested in buying Arcadia’s brands such as TopShop as well as Debenhams it confirmed today. Interim profits at the Sports Direct owner rose by 18%.

Travel group TUI posted a loss of €3.1bn in its latest financial year as demand for holidays slumped due to the COVID-19 clampdown. Winter bookings have also turned down though summer next year is looking a little brighter.

Among the small caps, investor PLC () said the results of drilling operations at West Newton have topped forecasts. The development would be the largest UK onshore discovery since 1973.

() has made social media publisher JOE UK operationally profitable four months after acquiring it. The wider group is making £135,000 per month in contracted revenues.

() signed a collaboration agreement with Austrian powertrain specialist AVL List. The pair will work together on licensing solid oxide fuel cells technology.