Latest News
Total’s outlook revised to ‘negative’ by Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has revised French oil major Total’s outlook to ‘negative’ from ‘stable’ but affirmed its long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'AA-'.
Market overview: US service sector cools off in February
1500: The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index retreated from a reading of 53. 5 in January to 53. 4 in February. That was better than the 53. 1 which economists had pencilled in.
Getting to Heathrow set to be difficult this weekend
Travellers heading for Heathrow Airport this weekend were being warned to plan ahead on Thursday, with the possibility that two of the three rail services to the airport would be out of action.
FTSE 100 movers: Admiral charges ahead while Whitbread slumps
The FTSE 100 was down 0. 28% to 6,130. 15 in afternoon trading on Thursday, having gained X to Y, as oil slipped back and investors digested the slowest growth in construction since last April.
Markit's US services PMI in contraction territory
The latest data from Markit confirmed that business activity in the US services sector contracted in February.
Thursday broker round-up
ITV: Jefferies reiterates buy with a target price of 310p, Exane BNP Paribas keeps at neutral with a target of 250p, UBS stays at sell. 230P target and Nomura reiterates buy with a target price of 320p.
Petroceltic advises shareholders to take no action on Worldview bid
AIM-listed oil and gas company Petroceltic International has told its shareholders to take no action as regards Worldview’s 3p per share offer, which it believes undervalues the group.
US labour costs increased by less than expected in the fourth quarter
US labour productivity shrank by less than economists had feared at the end of 2015, helping to cap increases in unit labour costs.
Sainsbury reserves right not to proceed with formal bid for Home Retail
Sainsbury cautioned investors it might not go ahead with a formal bid for Home Retail Group.
Friday preview: LSE reports full year results with merger talks in focus
The London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) full year results on Thursday will be closely scrutinised by analysts who will be particularly interested in any further information on its merger talks.
FTSE 250 movers: Aggreko powers ahead but Cobham skids
London’s FTSE 250 was up 0. 2% to 16,757. 03 at 1355 GMT, in line with fairly muted trading in other markets as investors kept to the sidelines ahead of Friday’s US nonfarm payrolls report.
JP Morgan goes underweight on US stocks
JP Morgan has recommended clients go 'underweight' on stocks and as it sees an eventual recession bringing US stocks down some 30%.
Carillion shares jump on strong revenue growth
Investors appeared more than pleased with Carillion's 2015 results on Thursday, with shares in the facilities management and construction services company experiencing a healthy rise after it posted strong growth amid muted trading.
US will not fall into recession in 2016, but might come close in 2017, UBS says
The US economy was not on course to fall into recession in 2016, but under certain circumstances the risk of such an event in 2017 might rise significantly, UBS told clients.
Shore Capital says get Shawbrook while it's hot
Shore Capital has reiterated its 'buy' rating on challenger Shawbrook Bank on its belief the valuation of the specialist lenders sub-sector is wrong, with Shawbrook being valued at 10 times earnings despite 20% EPS growth forecast.
Aggreko 2015 profit drops as it warns over first half
FTSE 250 temporary power provider Aggreko reported a drop in profit for 2015 and warned profit was likely to be lower in the first half of this year due to the timing of contract start and end dates.
Mastercard said to plan £1bn Vocalink takeover bid
US-based credit card issuer Mastercard has reportedly drawn up secret pans for a takeover of international payment systems provider Vocalink.
US jobless claims unexpectedly rise
The number of first time unemployment benefits claimants in the US unexpectedly rose last week, according to data from the Department of Labor.
Shawbrook beats forecasts and plays down BTL worries
Shawbrook Bank's first final results since its flotation last April showed underlying profits ahead of forecasts and confidence brimming for the years ahead.
The end is nigh for debt-fueled economic growth, Gross warns
Negative interest rates, central banks' quantitative easing and more cumbersome regulations will squeeze profits at financial companies, Bill Gross told clients in his latest monthly outlook, threatening the credit-fueled expansion of the last almost half-century.