MARKET REPORT: Games Workshop signs blockbuster movie deal

Games Workshop is heading for Hollywood after the group signed a blockbuster deal with Amazon. 

The London-listed firm will develop, alongside the US giant, films and television programmes based on its characters. 

The company said that the first rights to be developed will relate to the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. And yesterday Superman actor Henry Cavill confirmed he would star in the productions. 

Game on: The London-listed firm will develop, alongside the US giant, films and television programmes based on its characters

‘I have loved Warhammer since I was a boy, making this moment truly special for me,’ he said in a statement. ‘The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honour and the responsibility.’ 

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould added: ‘There have been efforts in the past to bring Games Workshop’s creations to the screen. Amazon’s deep pockets and its huge reach, more than 50 per cent of British households have an Amazon Prime account, puts this in a different stratosphere.’ 

Such a deal could also kick start a turnaround in fortune for the group’s shares, which have fallen nearly 15 per cent this year. Shares were up 16.2 per cent, or 1180p, to 8480p. 

The FTSE 100 finished down 1.27 per cent, or 94.05 points, to 7332.12 and the FTSE250 fell 1.62 per cent, or 305.31 points, to 18,588.48. 

Oil prices dropped 3.11 per cent, ending the week below $80 a barrel, amid fears over the health of economies around the world. 

It sent BP down 2.2 per cent, or 10.45p, to 455.4p and Shell lost 2 per cent, or 46.05p, to 2243p. 

Some of Britain’s top housebuilders were left spooked by the lender Halifax predicting that prices could fall by 8 per cent next year as a result of the cost of living crisis and rising interest rates increase mortgage costs. Persimmon slid 3.7pc, or 46.5p, to 1213p, Bellway sank 3.3 per cent, or 64.5p, to 1886.5p and Redrow fell 3 per cent, or 13.8p, to 454.4p. 

Over at Taylor Wimpey, chairman Irene Dorner brought her two-year tenure to an end after announcing she would step down for personal reasons at the end of the housebuilder’s annual general meeting in April next year. Shares fell 2.8 per cent, or 2.9p, to 100.5p. 

BT, meanwhile, will merge two of its business units in a bid to save at least £100m by the end of the 2025 financial year. 

The telecoms giant global and enterprise units, which cater for small business owners to the largest companies, will join forces to form BT Business. 

It is part of a wider strategy for BT Group to save £3billion by the end of 2024-25. Shares plunged 1.3 per cent, or 1.45p, to 112.95p. 

Further down the market and Trainline shares tumbled over fears its ticket sales could plunge amid the wave of strikes this Christmas. The FTSE 250 rail ticket seller dived 8.2 per cent, or 23.9p, to 269p after analysts struck a cautious tone. In a note to clients, Peel Hunt cut its target price to 510p from 542p. 

Britain has been gripped by industrial action this year, with 15 strike days over six-and-a-half months so far. 

And with a further nine strike days planned over the next two months, Trainline investors will be hoping that the rail unions locked in a bitter dispute with the Government over pay can come to an agreement. 

Fulham Shore painted a bleak picture ahead of the final few weeks of the year after it also warned the train strikes would take their toll. The group, which owns Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurant, saw its revenue soar 26 per cent to £49.9m in the six months to September while profit fell to £860,000 in the period compared with £3.1m a year earlier. 

But it warned its final quarter of the year is on course to lag behind the other nine months. Shares tumbled 8.9 per cent, or 1p, to 10.25p.