Shell weighs on FTSE 100 as virus fears push index to quarterly loss

LONDON: A bleak production forecast from Shell and losses in consumer stocks weighed on London’s FTSE 100 on Wednesday, but an upbeat outlook from gambling firm 888 Holdings pushed it to the top of the UK mid-caps index.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.5% as the oil and gas sector declined 1.8%.

Royal Dutch Shell hit its lowest in more than six-months after warning third quarter production was set to drop sharply due to the coronavirus pandemic and hurricanes forcing offshore platforms to shut down.

Compass Group lost 3.2% as the catering giant forecast a 19% fall in organic sales and a 100 million pound ($128 million) hit on its biggest businesses.

The mid caps index rose 0.8% as 888 Holdings jumped 21% after forecasting a better annual profit and declaring a special dividend.

G4S was the top boost, hitting a seven month high after the security group rejected a cash offer by smaller Canadian rival GardaWorld that valued the British company at 2.97 billion pounds ($3.81 billion), weeks after it turned down a similar proposal.

Sentiment took a hit after an indecisive US presidential debate overnight and a near 20% slide in Britain’s GDP, but investors took heart from upbeat economic data from China and the United States.

Brexit uncertainty coupled with fears of further economic stress as COVID-19 cases rise again washed out the FTSE 100’s August gains. On the quarter it lost almost 5%.

“The fourth quarter is going to really be interesting: we’ll hopefully get some news that takes away some of the unknowns such as a new US President and indications on when we can get a coronavirus vaccine,” said Jonathan Bell, chief investment officer at Stanhope Capital.—